When someone you love dies abroad, you’re not alone.
EZtransfer is led by a licensed American funeral director & embalmer with decades of experience in deathcare in the US and abroad. We serve as your single point of contact from the first call until your loved one arrives at the funeral home in the United States.
FOR AMERICAN FAMILIES IN GERMANY AND EUROPE
Available 24/7
+1 586-788-1662
Someone from HOME, when you need it most
Most of the families we help are facing a sudden loss. One moment you're on vacation, on a work trip or living your life overseas, and the next you're making decisions you never expected to make, in a country where the rules, the language and the customs are not your own.
Shock, lack of sleep and being so far from home can make even simple choices feel impossible. That's normal. You shouldn't have to figure it out alone.
When you call EZtransfer, you'll talk with an American funeral director who understands what American families expect: time to say goodbye, the option of a viewing at home, and the traditions and faith practices that matter to you. We speak your language, we know the system here, and we'll walk with you through every step.
How We Help.
One call. We handle the rest.
Our role is simple. We are your point of contact from the moment of death anywhere in the EU until your loved one is in the care of your hometown funeral home.
Step 1. Call us.
Tell us what happened and where. We'll explain your options in plain English and what needs to happen next.
Step 2. We work with the local authorities.
We coordinate with local authorities, the hospital or medical examiner, the U.S. Embassy or Consulate, and the local funeral home, and we take care of the paperwork and permits.
Step 3. Care and preparation.
Your loved one is brought into our care and prepared for travel, including embalming to American standards when a viewing/final goodbye at home is planned.
Step 4. The journey home.
We arrange the flight to the United States and deliver your loved one to the funeral home of your choice, keeping you updated along the way.
In-person and remote options
You will be contacted immediately by our director via phone, and together we decide the best plan for your family.
Guidance is Expertise
We make a very difficult time easier. Our transfer, embalming, and repatriation teams are based across Germany and the EU. Because we already have established local partners, we handle language issues, speed up arrangements, reduce waiting, and provide a straightforward route to bring loved ones home for families dealing with a death abroad.
Our Team
Jon O’Hara
FounderJon O'Hara is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in the State of Michigan with more than 27 years of experience caring for families in many different aspects of deathcare.
Today he leads EZtransfer's international work across Germany, the EU and Africa, including mortuary logistics for the U.S. government. Jon and his team work with directly with host-nation authorities, airports and funeral providers throughout the European Union and Africa.
Jon and his team are here to help with even the most complex funeral arrangements that begin abroad. We are available 24/7, every day of year for families that have experienced a loss while away from home.
Families often ask….
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The embassy or consulate will contact the family, share information and give you a list of local funeral homes, but it does not handle or pay for funeral or repatriation costs. Those are paid by the family or by travel insurance, if the person had it. We work alongside the consulate so nothing is missed.
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Absolutely, we can arrange any type of travel necessary for the the families we serve.
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Absolutely. In fact, many families prefer the cremation take place at home. Because most of the families we serve have experienced a sudden death, many arrange for a final goodbye at home prior to cremation.
***Note: EU Embalming availability will often be determined by country of death. -
All EU countries are goverened under different mortuary laws. Many host nations have short legal deadlines for burial or cremation, often just a few days. Call us as soon as you can and before you sign anything. We'll explain your options and, where allowed, ask for the extra time you need.
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Usually not. We can handle the arrangements and paperwork with you by phone, email and secure signature services. However, if a family member wishes to travel to the host nation, we can help arrange any type of travel arrangements for expeditious departure.
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Call the insurance company before making arrangements. Many policies cover repatriation. We can work directly with your insurer.
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Every case is different. You'll receive a clear written estimate before anything is arranged, with no surprises.
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Yes. If cremation takes place in Europe, we'll coordinate the urn's return to you in the United States.
Contact Us
If you require immediate assistance, please call us at +1 586-788-1662. Our 24/7 answering service will contact our on-call director.
