GULITY PLEAS: David Alan Te Maari at his sentencing for the manslaughter of Travis Russ.

A Nelson woman whose son was killed in a car crash just hours before his own son was born has been further scarred by her traumatic experience with a natural funeral company.

Dee Stansbury contracted Motueka company Living Legacies to assist with the funeral of her son, Travis Russ, who was killed in a car crash in Main Rd, Stoke, last April, just hours before his son was born.

With images of the accident scene still etched in her mind, Miss Stansbury and her family say they then went through several traumatic funeral experiences – including finding the body was leaking blood.

Supplied TRAVIS RUSS

Miss Stansbury refused to pay for the funeral, as she was angry about what she regarded as "the disrespectful and undignified way" her son's body was treated.

However, Living Legacies owner Lynda Hannah said this morning the company had become "the scapegoat" for the anger the family felt towards the young man "who killed their son, and their son for having put himself in that dangerous situation many times".

"It is common for grieving people to express misguided anger towards a third party because placing it where it rightfully belongs is just too painful."

Living Legacies' website says it offers an "environmental alternative to the existing funeral industry", supplying biodegradable and sustainably-produced coffins and providing guidance to empower families to have more control over the funeral process.

Miss Stansbury said Ms Hannah discouraged the family from embalming, but did not give enough information about the fluid leakage expected with natural burials.

"Had I known this could happen, I would most certainly have had my son's body embalmed.

"The emotional damage from the way our son's funeral requirements were handled has left me with scars I will live with for the rest of my life," Miss Stansbury said.

Ms Hannah's car, not a hearse, was used to transport Mr Russ' body from the hospital to home, where he was put on a table because the casket had not arrived.

When it arrived, the family had trouble securing the lid, which eventually had to be nailed down.

The same car took Mr Russ' body to the funeral and had a squealing cam belt.

Mr Russ, aged 21, was the front-seat passenger in a car which lost control on Main Rd, Stoke, and collided with an oncoming vehicle. He was killed almost instantly. His partner went into labour from shock.

The driver, his friend, David Te Maari, 21, was sentenced to six years and two months imprisonment.

Living Legacies took Miss Stansbury to the Disputes Tribunal late last year to seek payment.

While the tribunal found the quality of service was not up to standard, Ms Stansbury was still ordered to pay Living Legacies $1846.

The tribunal found Ms Hannah had not given the family enough information, especially about the amount of leakage possible and the traumatic effect it could have on people, particularly children.

Other planning failures included difficulties with the room temperature because of the number of people who wished to see the body and Mr Russ' partner ending up "well down" the funeral procession.

However, the coffin's late arrival and quality was found to be outside Ms Hannah's control, as it was ordered from a website.

Both parties disputed the charges, and there was no written contract or quotation.

The tribunal found Ms Hannah's service rate was reasonable, but the family received less than half of what they could reasonably expect from the company.

Miss Stansbury was asked to pay one day worth of fees, instead of two, plus costs.

Nelson MP Nick Smith said he was appalled at the poor service provided by Living Legacies, and felt the family were owed an apology.

"People only get one chance to farewell their loved one and they need to have confidence when engaging a funeral service provider that they are going to get the support they need at this incredibly difficult time.

"I am not saying people shouldn't use a natural burial company ... but people do need to be careful and understand the full implications. "

Ms Hannah said in 10 years of business she had not had any issues with customers, in fact most expressed sincere gratitude and appreciation. She always told them leakage was a possibility.

The company encouraged families to do as much of the funeral themselves as possible, including transporting the body in their own vehicle.

"When the family said they didn't have a suitable vehicle I agreed to use mine. However, it is just a family wagon, and like most family wagons it occasionally has problems."

She apologised for the state of the car at the time, and reduced her invoice because of this, she said.

Other planning issues which arose were "just normal realistic matters that families work through".

Often grieving people had an "understandably confused view of situations", particularly when the loss was sudden and tragic, which could distort communications and their long-term experiences of events, Ms Hannah said.

In retrospect, it seemed the family wanted more of a mainstream funeral and should have gone to a funeral director instead, Ms Hannah said. "It's a bit like going to an electrician when you need a plumber."

She said she was appalled Dr Smith had been able to speak at the tribunal hearing on Miss Stansbury's behalf, and believed it would be "a far better use of the Environment Minister's time to be challenging the toxic and pollutive practices within the funeral industry ... rather than the natural alternatives".