A Basildon woman today told of her relief after being reunited with her husband's ashes stolen from her home.
Rita Davis, of Woolmer Green, was left distraught after a small oak box containing the ashes of her husband, Ray, was taken during a burglary.
But on discovering the contents of the box, the thieves decided to leave the ashes on a green near Bluehouse Primary School in Laindon.
They were found by Sandra Marshall, who arranged for a parent at the school to delivered the ashes to a local undertakers.
She said: "I treated him with the kindest care I could, but I couldn't understand how anyone could leave a thing like that on a green."
Police were contacted and Mrs Davis has now been given back the ashes.
Mrs Davis said: "Obviously I had been very distraught. If I hadn't got them back I could never have rested in my entire life.
"I can rest now. When I die I want my ashes to be spread out with his. It means a lot that I can do that."
Published Monday, January 13, 2003
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