Death of a U.S. Citizen Abroad

When a U.S. Citizen dies abroad, the Consular Section can help provide information and make arrangements during this difficult time.  Please contact us for assistance.  Below is information about options for disposition of mortal remains.

1.                  Maximum Period Before Burial in Sierra Leone:

When Remains Are Embalmed:  The maximum period allowable before burial when the remains are embalmed is not specified in local regulations.  However, typically embalmed remains are buried within a one-month period from the time of death to allow time for any public viewing and funeral services.

When Remains Are Not Embalmed:  While not strictly enforced by law, local tradition, in most instances, requires remains not embalmed to be buried within 48 hours after death.  However, there are exceptions to the norm when religious or cultural beliefs or the need to transport a body to a distant embalmment facility may delay a planned embalmment.
 
2.                  Embalming is done by a cooling system coupled with formaldehyde infusion, which according to local regulations must be performed within 36 hours of the time of death.   Exceptions occur when the remains must be transported great distances to an available embalmment facility.

3.       Cremation:  Local cremation facilities and urns are available.  To arrange a cremation, official government authorization must be granted.   Specifically, an application submitted by the surviving family or the funeral home on their behalf, must be submitted to the Ministry of Health to the attention of the Director-General, Medical Services as well as a courtesy copy to the office of the City Council.  In Sierra Leone, while available to anyone, typically only people of the Hindu faith tend to request cremation services.  The cremations are also performed in an open area in a cemetery and not in the typical enclosed type facilities seen in the United States.
 
4.       Caskets and Containers:  Caskets in new or in single prior use condition are available on short notice.  Local funeral homes report that they shipped remains to the U.S. without problems and were able to meet the various U.S. Customs entry requirements.  The available supply for international shipment includes wooden caskets with zinc lining, and metal caskets, both of which are enclosed in a special casing and wooden crate.
 
5.       Exportation of Remains: Remains may be exported when fully embalmed and placed in a hermetically sealed container.  To facilitate shipment, an application letter, providing the flight and final destination details, should be submitted to the Ministry of Health for the attention of the Director-General, as well as a courtesy copy to the office of the City Council, with the following documents:

(a)  Official Death Certificate
(b) Doctor’s or Funeral Director's Embalming Certificate


6.       Exportation of Ash Remains:  To export ash remains, the following documents are required by authorities:

(a)  Official Death Certificate
(b)  Certificate of Cremation
(c)  Authorization Certificate from Health Department

7.       Costs: The estimated charges shown below are based on the U.S. dollar to Leone exchange rate of August 14, 2007.  All costs are approximations and are likely to change.

Local Burial:   US $3000. This estimated fee is for remains that will be buried
within a week or less.  It includes collection and transportation of remains, wood casket, funeral home charges (including embalming), administrative fees, cost of burial plot in public cemetery, and brief services.

Cremation and Disposal of Ashes:  There is only one crematorium in Freetown.  It is connected to a Hindu temple.  There is no official fee for the service, but a donation of any amount is requested from the temple.

Embalming:  US $2000.  Fees include embalming and doctor's/funeral director's certification.

Preparation and Shipment of Remains:   US $5,000.  Fees include embalming, collection of remains, documentation costs, wood casket with zinc lining, and U.S. regulation shipping container.  Add to this the estimated airfreight charges listed below:
          
Freetown to New York       $3,500
Freetown to Chicago         $4,000
Freetown to Los Angeles    $4,500

NOTE:  The above cost estimates have been obtained from local airline representatives based on the fees due after the remains have been accepted for shipment according to special cargo rates.  The airlines have informed us that the maximum shippable weight for a casket prepared for shipping is 150 kilos (330 pounds) for an adult.  In Sierra Leone the average urn containing ashes weighs 4 kilos.

Preparation and Shipment of Cremains (Ash Remains):  There are no set fees for preparation of cremains, but a donation of any amount is requested by the temple.   Add to this the estimated shipment/mailing costs listed below:

                                                  Airfreight  Insured Parcel Post APO    DHL
Freetown to New York                      $210            $100              $80     $335
Freetown to Chicago                        $210            $100              $80     $335
Freetown to Los Angeles                   $210            $100              $80     $335

Exhumations and Shipment:  For exhumation, an application letter must be submitted to the Ministry of Health, to the attention of Director-General Medical Services with a copy to the City Council. There is no time period on how long a body has been buried before an exhumation can be done. No fee is charged. Officials of the Ministry of Health do the exhumation.

(a) Exhumation within first 20 years        No fee
(b) Preparation of exhumed remains
 within first 20 years.                           No fee          
(c) Exhumation after 20 years                No fee
(d) Preparation of exhumed remains
after 20 years                                     No fee
 
(e) Shipping container                          $2000
(f) Air Shipping costs                            See above

8.   Remarks:   If the remains need to be transported within Sierra Leone prior to their departure from the capital, there will be additional costs of  $50 - $100 depending on  the distance.  There will also be additional costs should the remains transit an airport outside Sierra Leone and make a stopover en route to the final destination in the United States.
 
OCSDOCS/SierraLeone/Disposition of Remains 0903

CONTACTS

When calling Sierra Leone from the U.S., add 011 to the telephone number (For example, 011 232-22-515 000)

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

                             Ministry of Health and Sanitation
                             Medical Services
                             Attention: Director General
                             Youyi Building
                             4^th Floor
                             Brookfields
                             Tel no: 232 22 240 427/232 22 230 661/232 22 241 283

                             Freetown City Council
                             Attention: Chairman
                             15 Wallace Johnson Street  
                             Tel no: 232 22 223 636

HOSPITALS
                             Brookfields Community Hospital
                             11 Kingharman Road
                             Brookfields
                             Tel no: 232 22 242 003-5/ 232 22 240 832
                            
                             Netlands Hospital
                             27 Ascension Town Road
                             Tel no: 232 22 230 133-4/232 22 231 476

                             Choithram’s Memorial Hospital
                             Hill Station    
                             Tel no: 232 22 233 835
                                       232 76 652 773

                             Connaught Hospital
                             Lightfoot Boston Street
                             Tel no: 232 22 226 473

FUNERAL HOMES
                             Columbia Davies Funeral Services   
                             22C Race Course
                             Cline Town    
                             Tel no:  232 22 229 580/232 22 224 634
                             Cell no: 232 76 622 408/232 76 613 861

                             Freetown Funeral Service
                             Accession Cemetery
                             Accession Town
                             Tel no: 232 22 240 464/232 22 230 219
                             Cell no: 232 76 611 162

                             Metropolitan Funeral Home
                             174 Wilkinson Road
                             Tel no: 232 22 272 372
                            
                             Virtues Funeral Home
                             8B Bolling Street
                             Kingtom Cemetery
                             Kingtom
                             Tel no: 232 22 242 212

CREMATION
                             Indian Temple
                             Wilkinson Road
                             Tel no: 232 22 231 227

AIRLINES/TRAVEL AGENCIES
                             IPC TRAVEL
                             22 Siaka Stevens Street
                             Tel no: 232 22 221481/2/3
                             Cell no: 232 76 898 888
                                       232 76 660 651

                             SN Brussels Airlines
                             72B Cape Road
                             Aberdeen
                             Tel no: 232 22 236 445-9
                             Cell no: 232 76 801 492
                             Fax no: 232 22 236 442