A Christchurch family is involved in an ugly dispute over
whether a woman who died from cancer should be buried or
cremated.
Kelly Meester, 45, died last Friday after battling breast
cancer, The Press reported today.
Her partner, Hudson Hill, wants to have her buried, while her
sister, Jackie Sheehan, and her half-brother, Dana Bradley,
want her cremated.
Hill and Meester have a six-year-old daughter, Georgia.
Ms Meester's funeral has been delayed as both sides seek
legal advice.
Ms Meester made a will in 1999 in which she asked to be
cremated, but Mr Hill said his partner made it clear two
weeks before she died that she wished to be buried.
Ms Sheehan and Mr Bradley are the executors and trustees of
the will.
"She made the will when she didn't have a daughter or the
love we had. She wanted somewhere for Georgia and me to go to
grieve her and remember her," Mr Hill said.
Ms Sheehan disputes Mr Hill's burial claims and said her
sister had told friends over the past few months she wanted
to be cremated.
Mr Bradley said cremation was traditional in the family.
"Unfortunately, my sister's wish is to be cremated and that's
clear in her will, and it also has been the tradition in her
family, with ashes being scattered around the place."
He did not believe his sister had changed her mind.
The law on the subject was considered in a case earlier this
year involving the Bay of Plenty family of Jim Takamore
removing his body from Christchurch for burial in the Bay
town of Kutarere, against his widow's wishes, in 2007.
Justice Fogarty, in the High Court in Christchurch, ruled
that a person named as an executor in a will had the right to
possession of the body against all other persons and must
decide how the burial is to be arranged.
