Stolen ashes returned to widow

An elderly widow whose husband’s ashes were stolen in a cruel home invasion last week has had his remains returned to her.

Nada French with daughter Joan Hyams and grandson Zac Hyams after the break-in. Picture: Richard Walker

An elderly widow whose husband’s ashes were stolen in a cruel home invasion last Thursday has had his remains returned to her by police - a day after The Courier-Mail reported on the callous break-in.

Nada French’s engagement and eternity rings were also taken from her Mt Gravatt home after thieves used a crowbar to gain entry, but the 87-year-old cared most about the ashes.

Mrs French wanted to be buried with her husband of 60 years in the family plot at Nudgee Cemetery and had been keeping his ashes on the sideboard since his 2016 passing.

To her immense relief, the ashes – stored in a blue plastic container with a plaque bearing Neal French’s name – were later left in the garden of the Anglican Church of the Annunciation in Camp Hill.

A member of the church gardening club was reading The Courier-Mail and realised where they really belonged.

Police returned the ashes to the grandmother of six on Monday.

“We cannot thank The Courier-Mail enough – even the police were completely shocked and said the thieves must have grown a conscience,” Mrs French said.

“We are completely elated and my husband is back home finally.”

Nada French had husband Neal’s wedding photo

EARLIER

A heartbroken elderly widow has been robbed of her dying wish after thieves stole her late husband’s ashes during an astonishingly cruel break-in.

Nada French, 87, had kept the remains of her husband of 60 years in their home in Brisbane’s Mount Gravatt since 2016, and planned to have them put with her own in the family plot at Nudgee Cemetery.

But last Thursday afternoon, thieves crowbarred their way into her home and stole the nondescript blue plastic container holding Neal French’s ashes, as well as Mrs French’s engagement and eternity rings and her laptop.

“We wanted to be buried together; I am completely shattered,” said Mrs French, a mother of three and grandmother of six.

“What kind of people would do this? I don’t care so much about the rings, but I want my husband back.”

Daughter Joan Hyams said the despicable act was akin to “losing Dad twice”.

“Every week when I visit Mum I love the fact that Dad’s there on the sideboard and I lay my hands on him,” Mrs Hyams said.

“He was all sunshine and light and we all miss him.”

Mrs Hyams said she was relieved her mum wasn’t home at the time of the break-in.

“Their home is like a fortress and Mum never felt unsafe – now all that’s changed,” she said.

“The whole family is just devastated and stealing someone’s ashes just doesn’t add up.

“We are desperate to have them returned.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact Policelink on 131 444.