Three days after their mothers ashes were stolen, and two days after an emotional public plea for the return of their beloved mother’s ashes, a Calgary-area family has received some good news.
Anna Thompson, 74, died just days before Christmas and while her family was busy making plans for her funeral, her son’s home in Chestermere was broken into.
The thieves stole tools and an iPad along with the urn containing the woman’s ashes.
On Friday, following a plea for their return with no questions asked, Thompson’s ashes were reunited with her family.
“The last three days have been the craziest days of my life,” says her daughter Deanna. “We have been trying so hard to get the word out and it is truly because of the community and the number of people and the media that this has happened. I am just so, so thankful.”
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“I have every friend, family member and complete strangers reaching out to me and you know, just praying for us that the she would be returned and that happened today and I’m absolutely elated,” Thompson added.
The RCMP announced in a press release that the ashes were found outside a local funeral home.
The family found out when they got a call from an employee of McInnis and Holloway who said the urn containing the ashes was discovered outside a maintenance door.
“There was a note on top of the box asking that it be returned to the family,” said Thompson. “The note said they were found in an alley and that they wanted to return the ashes to us.”
“It’s the best phone call I’ve received in my entire life, and the next best one was phoning my dad,” Thompson added.
RCMP are still asking for help from the public to identify two male suspects believed responsible for the theft and they’ve released images from CCTV video in hopes someone may recognize the culprits.
Investigators say one was wearing white sweatpants, a blue and black coat, black shoes, and a black hat and gloves.
The second man was wearing blue overalls with yellow stripes and a white construction hat.
Thompson told Global News, her mother loved adventure.
Reflecting on the stress of having her ashes stolen, but also the happy ending, she joked that this was perhaps her mother’s final adventure.
Anna Thompson’s funeral will be held on Jan. 17.
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