Family Asks For Help To Afford Dad's Funeral In Hudson County

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — After a 36-year-old father of two died of head injuries suffered at home in Union City last month, two boys have asked for financial help so they can see him before he is cremated.

According to Luis Riera, his cousin Jorge Bautista Riera, 36, of Union City died on Sept. 26 at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, "due to a fall he had at home that caused head injuries."

Luis, who is also a Union City resident, said he didn't know exactly how Jorge fell, but his mother found him on the floor, having hit his head hard.

The late Jorge Riera had lived in Union City for eight years, according to Luis. Luis said that Jorge has two sons, 8 and 15 years old, who live in Ecuador with their mother. But Jorge was preparing to bring them to the United States legally when he had his accident.

"He leaves two minors and his wife," Luis said, after Patch reached out. "They are very low on economic resources. One of Jorge's sons named Mateo, 15 years old, has asked me for help with this situation, how could I deny his petition; so, I appeal to your good heart. Any cooperation would really help."

He explained that Maria and the boys will soon travel the U.S. with a humanitarian visa from Ecuador.

"She borrowed money for the plane flights," Jorge said. "Their urgency is that the family here wants the body to be cremated as soon as possible, but the boys Mateo, 15 years old, and Anderson, 8 years old, want to say goodbye to their father one last time, not to his ashes. The two children were at school in Ecuador. Jorge was about to legally bring them to the United States but unfortunately passed away."

Early in the week, the GoFundMe had almost no donations. But on Wednesday, Union City Mayor Brian Stack helped out, which gave the page a boost. It still has not met its $2,000 goal.

"Union City Mayor Brian P. Stack has paid the funeral home a very substantial amount of money," Luis said in an update. "Maria, Mateo, and Anderson are grateful for the helpful donation made by the mayor, as well as for the kind-hearted donors who are also contributing."

See the GoFundMe here.