The Andrew Sorrentino Funeral Service located at 2203 Ave. U started in September 2003. google.com
Caribbean Life, April 3-9, 2020 3
By Nelson A. King
Relatives of Vincentian nanny Jenna
Francina Layne say that she died on Saturday
in Brooklyn from the coronavirus
(COVID-19).
Layne’s sister, Erica Layne-Gordon,
an early childhood educator in Brooklyn,
told Caribbean Life Sunday that her
sister had exhibited symptoms of the
virus and succumbed to “complications
related to the coronavirus” at the sprawling
Kings County Hospital. She was 66.
“Words cannot express the grief and
pain that the family is feeling, because
Jenna was a vibrant individual full of
energy,” said Brooklyn resident Layne-
Gordon and Jenna’s only daughter,
Karen Roxanne Layne-Lewis, who lives
in Florida, in an interview.
“Jenna left an irreplaceable mark on
the lives she came in contact with,” they
added. “Jenna lost that drive and energy
when she took ill few weeks ago.”
Layne-Gordon and Layne-Lewis said
Jenna, formally of Brighton and Diamond
Estate in St. Vincent and the
Grenadines, was a nanny for “two distinguished
employers, Frank Scanga and
Snezana, in Manhattan.”
It was not clear whether the couple
tested for the virus, but Layne-Gordon
said she strongly believed that her sister,
who also resided in Brooklyn, contracted
the virus on the train from Brooklyn to
Manhattan or vice versa.
“Jenna spent most of her life as a
staunch Christian and a mentor in her
church,” said Layne-Gordon and Layne-
Lewis, disclosing that Jenna worshipped
at God’s Battalion of Prayer, an evangelical
church on Linden Boulevard in
Brooklyn, whose pastor is Guyaneseborn.
“Serving God was Jenna’s passion,
and this is how she will love to be
remembered,” they added.
Jenna’s sister and daughter said Jenna
was born on Dec. 11,1953 in the town
of Barrouallie in St. Vincent and the
Grenadines, then resided in Old Montrose,
Kingstown, the Vincentian capital,
before moving to Brighton Village
and Diamond Estate.
By Tangerine Clarke
Funeral Director, Andrew Sorrentino
of a family owned business in
Brooklyn, revealed, that family members
of eight Caribbean nationals, who
succumbed to the Coronavirus COVID-
19 recently, have sought to have their
loved ones buried or cremated, while
some have requested, bodies returned
to their country of birth.
During an exclusive interview
with Caribbean Life, Sorrentino, who
have laid nationals to rest during his
engagement in the community for the
past 25 years, expressed condolences
to family members who have lost loved
ones to the deadly disease. Among the
thousands are persons from Guyana,
Jamaica, Trinidad, Haiti and Panama,
his funeral home will inter.
He said bodies cannot be shipped
back to the homeland now, due to
the closure of airports, and further
explained, that in order for Caribbean
burials, funeral homes must acquire a
non-communicative disease document
from the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, and since persons
would have passed away during the
pandemic, this would not be possible,
since countries would not accept such
bodies.
As such, families are forced to bury
loved ones in the U.S. while others
are opting for cremation, and ashes
returned to the Caribbean for burial,
at a later time.
Sorrentino, who has provided services
beyond the funeral home by providing
in-home consultation, will continue
to do so, despite the contagious
virus outbreak that requires taking
precautionary measures.
He adheres to all directives to protect
himself, noting in recent times,
when called to the morgue to pick
up two bodies, the number would be
higher at this time, due to COVID 19.
Along with another funeral director,
they transport bodies from hospitals,
and have gone to homes, as
the situation worsens. He explained
that because persons with mild symptoms,
are being turned away, many
have died in their homes.
The disease cannot be transmitted
to a living person since dead bodies
are embalmed. However, some funeral
homes are cautioning families to not
attend funerals in large numbers, and
to take precautionary measures to prevent
the spread of COVID 19.
Some funeral homes are limiting
the number to twenty family members,
while others allow 50, who can
attend going home service at funeral
homes, churches, and gravesites, to
practice social distancing put in place
by New York authorities.
Some funeral homes are outright
refusing to allow family members
at crematorium but instead offer to
deliver ashes after a body cremation.
Wearing protective gloves and mask,
must also be adhered to at the funeral
homes that offer viewing.
Sorrentino, who says he is properly
attired at all time, in mask, gloves
and added clothing to deal with the
mass deaths, call on everyone to stay
in doors, or if persons must leave
their homes, take every precautionary
measure, by wearing wear gloves
and mask.
Event though sanitizing of hands is
highly advised, washing thoroughly,
after returning home is the best way to
safeguard against spreading the virus.
The undertaker who says he works
24 hours, 7 days a week, assures families
that making their experience comfortable
is what he prides himself on,
and offers to transact business at their
home or church, which would be more
relaxing for them.
Andrew Sorrentino could be reached,
at 718-951-9650, or 917-921-6758.
Visit www.cdc.gov for more information.
Vincentian nanny, Jenna Francina
Layne. Erica Layne-Gordon
Sorrentino Funeral home
comforts family members
who lost loved from COVID-19
Vincy nanny
dies from
coronavirus
/www.cdc.gov
/google.com
/www.cdc.gov
