Nov 14, 2023

Husband’s ashes returned to widow after cold-hearted robbery

87-year-old Nada and her daughter Joan were devastated when the urn was taken. [Source: A Current Affair]

An older Queensland woman has had her late husband’s ashes returned after burglars stole his urn from her Queensland home in broad daylight.

Nada French, 87, had the urn containing the ashes of her husband of 53 years Neal stolen along with her engagement and eternity rings from her property in Mount Gravatt on Thursday.

Speaking with A Current Affair, Ms French and her daughter Joan Hyams explained how the cold-hearted theft was like “losing dad twice”. 

Ms Hyams described the theft as being “even more disturbing” for the family than when her father passed away in 2016.

Ms French had planned for her ashes to be interned with her husband's. [Source: A Current Affair]

But the mother and daughter were ecstatic when they received a call confirming Neal’s urn was located by police on the steps of a nearby church after the family put out a public plea for its return.

“It means everything because we planned so many years ago that we would both be cremated and both go into the family plot at Nudgee,” Nada said.

Ms Hyams said she was elated to hear the urn had been returned and that her dad is “back with us, where he belongs.”

“He was such a good, considerate, thoughtful, family man. I couldn’t have asked for anything better, really.”

While the tragedy was resolved, the incident majorly concerned Ms French as she thought her home was totally secure. 

“My other son and I are looking into how we can make [the house] more secure,” she said. 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

89-year-old man gets stood-up on first date in 30 years

A grandfather who filmed himself getting ready for his first date in three decades has been showered with support after being stood-up and left to eat alone. Read More

Vale Val French: inspiring activist, founder of Older People Speak Out, and cherished friend

On March 12 of this year, just before the world as we knew it was swept away by COVID-19, the redoubtable Val French AM, who had worked tirelessly on behalf of older people, and on many other social issues throughout her life, died peacefully, surrounded by her family, at the age of 92. Read More

The community health nurses helping homeless people navigate the pandemic

On this World Homelessness Day and World Mental Health Day (10th October 2021), as Melbourne works through another wave of COVID-19, the rights and equity-based health care model provided to the community has never been more important. Read More
Advertisement
Exit mobile version