Family of man whose body was at South Chicago Chapel told his body can be released

As the Cook County medical examiner’s office works to identify the 56 bodies removed from a South Side funeral home, the family of Keith Allen Young learned Saturday his body can be released, his sister said.

The update brings Young’s family a step closer to paying their respects. His body, which they thought was being prepared by South Chicago Chapel for burial, never arrived at the church for his wake on Thursday.

Young’s funeral was supposed to be Friday. Instead, his family went to the medical examiner’s office to see what they could find out.

Stephanie Young said the medical examiner’s office contacted one of her brothers Saturday to say their brother’s body had been identified. She believes the next step is for the family to find another funeral home that can receive her brother’s body.

“It’s just the devastation to our family to have to redo this whole situation over again,” Young said. “At this point, we’re just happy to have his body … so we can move forward in laying him to rest.”

Keith Allen Young, 48, died July 26. His body was delivered Wednesday to South Chicago Chapel, 2939 E. 95th St., the same day the business had its license revoked, as previously reported by the Sun-Times.

The funeral home was supposed to prepare his body and deliver it to a church Thursday, but it never arrived.

Young’s relatives said their calls to the funeral home seeking answers were not returned, and the family learned through the media that the funeral home had been shut down.

The medical examiner’s office said Friday it had taken jurisdiction of 56 remains from the funeral home and was working to assess their condition, confirm identification and ensure appropriate paperwork was filed.

The office could not confirm Saturday how many of the remains had been identified so far or provide additional updates on the process.

Additional information was expected Monday morning, according to Natalia Derevyanny, spokesperson for the medical examiner’s office.

Young’s bodies and others were found on Thursday by police. Officers went to the chapel that day learning that bodies at the South Deering funeral home were not being stored at or below 40 degrees, as required by state regulations, according to a police report obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times. Inside, officers found dozens of bodies in various areas of the funeral home. The bodies were not refrigerated and were in various stages of decomposition, according to the report.