A plea from Funeral director Nick Bakulich went out to the Pacific community to find the next of kin who could claim the body of Puna Pau, who died in a rest home more than three months ago.
No known next of kin had come forward prior to yesterday to claim his body since his death was reported to the Police.
The body had been in the Police Mortuary since the time of death. Nick Bakulich of Weirs Funeral Directors tried many avenues to locate family including through social media networks.
The rest home where Mr Pau resided say there has been a history of family members being found hard to contact with current contact numbers no longer in service. Mr Pau very rarely had visitors. The only information we knew of Mr Pau is that he was married twice with five children, he was a former freezing worker and patient of Fraser MacDonald.
‘The family have now been located and I have spoken to them, at this stage they are getting together and will make some decisions. Further funeral details will now be subject to the family arrangements. Thank you very much to the Pacific Island Community for rallying around today and spreading the word, it's only been 5 hours since our media release, this could of easily been a 'pauper' funeral but because of the community we now have a deceased who will be farewelled surrounded by family’.
Nick Bakulich
Funeral Director
Weirs Funeral Directors
