I am the executor for an estate in Pennsylvania. The person died in 2008 and did not have any insurance. Someone came forward and paid for the funeral expenses and provided receipts to the estate attorney. The executor (me) was never notified of the claim against the estate. In fact, I received a letter from the attorney in 2011 stating that there were no claims against the estate.
In a few months, the property of the deceased will likely be sold and there will finally be a cash balance in the estate account. Based on the law, is the person who paid for the funeral legally entitled to be reimbursed even though it was over 8 years ago?
This is almost a decade since Letters presented, I'd really get the docket report and go through it carefully to make sure no glitches. You don't want a surprise to pop up at closing (like a lein placed on property). Actually I'd suggest for you to check with the title company days ahead of closing to make sure there's no clouds lurking due to probate deficiencies.
If there's $, I'm with the others on paying the person who handled the funeral expense. & with a big gift card from a nicer store!
Regardless, I agree with the above replies that what this person did was very generous and considerate and if the money is available they should be repaid - a "thank you" note and a bouquet of flowers wouldn't be a bad idea either, in my opinion.
That said - at least here in Oregon there are laws establishing the priority of who gets paid first from an estate- with attorneys being at the top of the list followed by outstanding financial debts to creditors.
So you probably need to check into any legally established repayment hierarchy as it applies in the estates resident state first.