Testimonials

Dear John and GRAFCO Team:

The U.S. Consulate General in Dubai would like to express its sincere thanks and appreciation for the excellent services your company provided to U.S.citizen, Mr. Ray Walter Clevinger who died in Dubai with no family or friends willing to contribute towards his burial cost.

Thank you for helping us through the process from the beginning to end and transporting his remains to Abu Dhabi for burial.

Sincerely,
Kelly McGuire
Chief,American Citizen Services

Dear John,

I just want to take time to thank you for all the help you provided for us during the repatriation of my husband, Mike Forbes.

When Mike dead, I was at a loss as to how to handle all the “red tape” involved in getting his body back to the United States. Both the American consulate and Travel Guard insurance company submitted your company’s name to us for consideration. In addition, my daughter, Karina Bohn did an internet search and discovered your website .she contacted you before you made a decision on what company to choose

When we heard form Travel Guard that you were an American citizen and they had received good reports from other clients you had helped, we chose GRAFCO. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life!

Your professionalism was impeccable, but it was your kindness and compassion that made this difficult task so much more bearable. At the end of our week in Dubai, Karina posted on facebook that one overwhelming feeling she had during the week was one of being blessed. Both of us were referring not only to the support of friends and family through the internet; but also (and even more important) we are thinking of how fortunate and blessed we were to find you.

I truly don’t know we could have done it without your help. We have told so many people how much appreciated your presence in our lives during that week. I believe God sends angels when we are desperately in need and I believe you were definitely our guardian angel in Dubai. Mike would say, “Thank you for taking care of my family.”

God forbid , if the time ever comes that we have to recommend a repatriation company, you will be the first person we name .The Forbes /Bohn family will always remember you with genuine fondness and gratitude .Thank you so much.

Sincerely yours,
Dana Forbes

The British Embassy Dubai,

Dear Christine Searle,

I write to you in support of John Korah of Grafco. He performed funeral services and arranged the recent burial of our child in Jebel Ali Cemetery. He handled all matters required at the hospital mortuary, with the authorities who issue burial licenses and arranged the attendance of the local Anglican minister with discretion and efficiency. I have no doubt that we will call upon his services again when we need the body exhumed and transported to its final resting place.

Yours Sincerely,
Graham Henderson

To Whom It May Concern,

My Mother recently passed away from a heart attack here in Dubai, which came suddenly and without any fore‐warning whatsoever.

I can’t express how at ease I felt with John and his team from the very moment that he answered the telephone. Here was someone obviously used to dealing with grief, albeit vicariously, and his telephone manner instantly made me feel grateful to the nurse at the hospital the previous evening. I immediately felt that I was in not only competent, but understanding, hands.

I will be forever in John and his team’s debt for the fact that they took over as much of the dealing with authorities as they could. Obviously there are integral parts of the process that require the presence of family, but where possible, Grafco ensured that they dealt with things themselves and reported back to me with regular updates, thus allowing me time to spend grieving with my wife, Sister and Father.

“Grafco” probably dealt with 80% of the procedures autonomously, which was an enormous relief. I can sincerely say that if I had to deal with any more uncaring people at that time of loss, my temper would have snapped, which would have served no positive purpose. John and his team’s demeanor, though, when dealing with these authorities was perfect. They somehow managed to generate a calming influence on my family and me whilst at the same time expediting the entire process where possible.

From my Mother’s passing to her being released for transportation to the United Kingdom took eight days, which at the time seemed an inordinately lengthy wait. Whilst at the mortuary, however, there were relatives of other people attempting to repatriate their loved ones, some of whom had been deceased for up to five months – and still they were being turned away due to incorrect paperwork. This may sound like a strange emotion to feel, but with the benefit of hind sight, I can truthfully say that I felt lucky to be there with John and his team.

They held my hand, figuratively speaking, for eight days, and offered a proverbial shoulder to cry on throughout. And whilst I am sure that I was not their only client going through similar processes at the time, it appeared as if I was. Without them, I simply would not have coped.

The last thing that I would like to bring to the attention of whoever is reading this is one of cost. Clearly at the time of losing a loved one, you would undoubtedly be prepared to pay whatever it takes to gain some peace of mind that you are being helped by compassionate professionals and that you are in the best possible hands – that feeling is absolutely priceless. But the cost of “Grafco’s” service, in my opinion, is totally under‐valued. Although I have no point of reference for comparison, as my Mother is the only relative I have lost whilst living overseas, I would doubt that a better service could possibly exist, regardless of the cost.

So if you have lost a loved one recently, and need or want to repatriate them, you will need to engage the services of a professional, and there couldn’t exist a better, more professional, more compassionate group of people to assist you through your time of grief and to expedite the process on your behalf. Speaking from personal experience, I urge you not to attempt this alone for the sake of your own sanity.

I will always hold a debt of heartfelt gratitude towards “Grafco” as there is absolutely nothing that can ever be done to repay them. I conclude, therefore, by saying thank you John, Ronnie and everyone else.

Yours faithfully,
Michael Wright