HOUSE OF BRANCH FUNERAL HOME CHICAGO
A grieving Chicago mother is speaking out from her Facebook account as “Butta Butta” after claiming a funeral home mishandled one of the most painful moments of her life.
According to the mother, her 18-month-old son passed away on February 23, 2026. As she prepared to lay her child to rest, she says she ordered a custom casket from House of Branch Funeral Home at 3125 W Roosevelt Rd that was specifically designed for her toddler.
She claims the funeral home measured her son at 33 inches and told her the casket would be white with a Cocomelon-themed interior, fully openable, costing around $1,500.
But when the day of the funeral arrived, the mother says what she saw left her in shock.
Instead of the custom toddler casket she expected, she alleges the casket presented was blue and white and sized for a child around seven or eight years old. She believes the funeral home may have given her a casket they already had instead of the custom one she paid for.
The situation allegedly became even more distressing during the service. The mother says funeral director Latrece Johnson, who she claims is also her cousin, approached her and warned that if the casket were closed, the latch would lock and it would not be able to be reopened.
Moments later, she says her son’s photo slid down near the casket, triggering an emotional reaction that caused her to run out of the funeral.
She also alleges that House of Branch later told her it would cost $780 in cash out of pocket for her son to be buried and that they had nothing to do with the issue she raised. She contacted the cemetery, which is the same cemetery where her mother is buried, and they told her the price would be $480 only.
The mother now says she feels scammed and disrespected during one of the most heartbreaking moments a parent could go through, after visiting the funeral home only to be called out of her name after asking for the receipt from her son’s casket purchase.
The allegations have sparked outrage online as many are calling for answers and accountability.
