Michigan Widow Sues Funeral Home Over Decades-Old Ashes Mix-Up

A Michigan widow is suing a local funeral home after discovering that her late husband’s ashes were kept at the facility for 27 years without her knowledge. Daisy Marshall of Holly says the revelation has caused years of unnecessary grief.

Discovery of Michigan Man's Ashes

Marshall’s husband, Charles Marshall, passed away decades ago. While making prearrangements at Great Lakes National Cemetery in 2022, she learned that a portion of his ashes had already been delivered there in December 2018, despite her believing she had them at home.

Funeral Home’s Account

An attorney for Wilson-Akins Funeral Homes claims Marshall requested only part of her husband’s ashes at the time of his death, and the remainder was left at the facility for the next 27 years. The funeral home says Marshall never collected them.

Widow’s Response

“That conversation never happened. It never happened. Even if the conversation had taken place, I was supposed to be given, according to what I’ve read, some written communication to pick those ashes up,” she said.

She is now suing the funeral home, seeking accountability and hoping her case will prevent similar incidents for other families.

“Three other veterans’ ashes were interred there—or stored there, I should say. Two of those veterans had been there over 31 years and one, over 10 years,” Marshall said.

According to WXYZ-TV, Michigan's Mortuary Science Unit has investigated the situation and cleared the funeral home of any wrongdoing.