A body in an open casket in a suburban Detroit park prompts calls to police

2024-12-25 23:31:49 source:lotradecoin instant crypto swaps category:My

WARREN, Mich. (AP) — A suburban Detroit park with baseball fields, a playground and picnic tables had an unusual addition this week: an open casket containing the body of a 97-year-old woman who used to live in the area.

Police in Warren fielded calls from curious residents, especially after a photo was posted Tuesday on social media. Some people wondered if it was a very early Halloween prank. Officials said plans for the viewing at Butcher Park weren’t disclosed ahead of time.

Madonna Stiller’s family said they simply wanted to honor her before her burial that day in Detroit. A viewing at a local funeral home apparently wasn’t possible after the body was transported to Michigan. She died in Wellsville, New York, on Aug. 29.

“The funeral director temporarily situated the casket in the park so that the deceased’s family members could say their final goodbyes prior to her burial at Mt. Olivet Cemetery,” police said Thursday.

A photo on Facebook showed an open casket and a spray of flowers under large leafy trees. A man sat nearby at a picnic table.

“We just wanted to honor my mother,” Stiller’s son, Ken Stiller, told The Macomb Daily. “We didn’t mean to cause any problems and didn’t mean for it to be in the newspaper.”

City officials said a park can’t automatically be a place for open caskets.

“We would ask that the public please contact City Hall or the Police Department in advanced if requesting a viewing at a city park so that we can ensure the necessary protocols are respected,” police said.

More:My

Recommend

Save 30% on the Perfect Spongelle Holiday Gifts That Make Every Day a Spa Day

This article is sponsored by Spongelle. Our writers and editors independently selected these product

The Oil Market May Have Tanked, but Companies Are Still Giving Plenty to Keep Republicans in Office

Even as Joe Biden and Congressional Democrats have built a commanding lead in the money race ahead o

World Talks on a Treaty to Control Plastic Pollution Are Set for Nairobi in February. How To Do So Is Still Up in the Air

Governments are taking steps to rein in plastic waste.But none of what’s been done so far has been u