THE lonely funeral of twin sisters who probably starved to death has been held.
Reclusive Stephanie and Jacqueline Berry, 51, lay dead in their Beulah Hill flat for more than a month before being discovered.
They were found in separate bedrooms in their Upper Norwood home on March 26.
More than seven months later, on November 2, a service was held at Croydon Crematorium.
Although an inquest heard the pair had no family, it is understood mourners did attend.
The funeral was organised by Croydon Council.
Upper Norwood councillor Pat Ryan – who lived a few doors along from the sisters – said: "If I had known about the service then I would have gone along because they didn't have a soul in the world.
"They didn't have anybody – no relations, nobody. I knew one of them who used to walk up and down past my house.
"She was quiet, but would say hello. Some days she would be depressed, but most of the time she would give me the time of day.
"I'm exploring the possibility of having an independent inquiry, as I'm appalled that two females can be allowed to starve to death in the 21st century.
"It's absolutely ghastly. People are still very down about it."
Investigations into the Berry sisters' lifestyles revealed their utility bills had not been paid for months, an inquest was told in September.
They had no lighting, heating, water, computer or phones, and no obvious source of income, with a bank account virtually cleaned out.
They were not known to social services and their bodies were found in an advanced decomposed state. Croydon Coroner Dr Roy Palmer recorded an open verdict, explaining there was a "lack of any evidence in terms of establishing what they died of".
The council organised 64 funerals during the last financial year for those without relatives.
It is able to recover from the estate of the deceased any expenses that may have occurred in organising the funeral.
