Stolen ashes returned

LUKE PARKER

A GOOD samaritian has made it possible for Stan Letica to honour the promise he made to his late wife Myra.

Burglars broke into Mr Letica's Kelston home and stole a raft of items including what they probably thought was a box of jewellery on August 16.

The box sitting on a dresser in the 86-year-old's bedroom actually contained his former wife's ashes.

"She had dementia and died seven years ago," Mr Letica says. "Because of her type of illness she was afraid of things and so I told her that I would never ever let her go.

"We didn't make very many promises to each other but the ones we did were made very seriously and were carried out."

The great-grandfather-of-four says his plan was to have Mrs Letica's ashes with him until he died and they would be buried together.

"I was quite devastated," he says. "I actually broke down and I don't do that lightly. It was a very traumatic experience.

"Those people who stole from me broke my promise to keep her safe. They took that away from me.

"It was very hard to accept," he says.

Mr Letica was away up north at the time of the break-in and was contacted by a relative.

But his weeping was soon turned to joy.

"I returned home the next morning and had a message from the New Lynn police on my answering machine," he says.

"They told me that someone had handed Myra's ashes in at the station. I was told a man had been walking down Rimu St and saw the box on the side of the kerb and knew what it was because he had just buried his father's ashes."

The container had Mrs Letica's name on it as well as the undertakers. on it.

"It was as though some sort of a miracle had happened," Mr Letica says.

"I was quite elated.

"I can talk to her again now. She was such a loving person.

"I never stopped congratulating myself that she decided to marry me.

"We were best friends and did everything together."

The box was damaged and Morrison Funeral Directors in Henderson replaced it for free.

Mr Letica is now wondering if he can keep the ashes safely at home.

"I'm getting my house alarmed and replacing all the locks."

Mr Letica says his large television, personal items and a selection of whiskies were also stolen.

"The other stuff is replaceable, but my wife's ashes aren't."

Police have completed a forensic examination and are investigating.

- © Fairfax NZ News