Families settle row over final rites

Potential legal difficulties preventing the cremation of Christchurch woman Kelly Meester appear to have been cleared.

Meester, 45, died of breast cancer last Friday.

However, her funeral was postponed while her siblings and her partner, Hudson Hill, disputed whether her remains should be buried or cremated.

Both sides took legal advice and contacted police.Meester's half-brother, Dana Bradley, who is an executor of Meester's will, said yesterday that no legal impediment to his sister being cremated had eventuated.

A funeral will be held in Christchurch on Tuesday.

In her will, Meester asked to be cremated.

Although police had become involved, the coroner was not investigating and had not asked for an autopsy, Bradley said.

Hill maintained Meester changed her mind regarding cremation about two weeks before her death.

"She made the will when she didn't have a daughter or the love we had," Hill said earlier this week.

"She wanted somewhere for [daughter] Georgia and me to go to grieve her and remember her."

Hill said he hoped the families would resolve issues amicably over the Christmas period.

He would continue to contest Meester's will, he said.

- © Fairfax NZ News