Terri Schiavo’s Remains Buried, Michael Offends Family With Quote

Bioethics   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Jun 21, 2005   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Terri Schiavo’s Remains Buried, Michael Offends Family With Quote Email this article
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
June 21, 2005

Clearwater, FL (LifeNews.com) — Terri Schiavo’s estranged husband Michael has buried her remains in a Florida cemetery rather than in a Philadelphia plot he owns. However, he’s upset Terri’s family by not telling them about the burial service and putting an offensive quote on her tombstone.

Michael upset Terri’s family by putting the quote, "I kept my promise" on Terri’s burial marker.

He also listed the date Terri died as February 25, 1990 — the day Terri collapsed from unknown circumstances. Terri actually passed away on March 31, 2005, after suffering a painful 13 day starvation and dehydration death.

The grave marker lists the 1990 date as the day Terri "Departed the Earth" and lists the 2005 date as the day Terri was "at peace."

The marker describes Terri as a "beloved wife" and features the Christian symbol of a dove descending to the Earth.

David Gibbs, an attorney for Terri’s parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, told the Associated Press that the wording on the burial marker is "a real shot and another unkind act toward a grieving Mom and Dad."

"It’s a slap in the face to the parents,” Gibbs said. "It’s insulting to the family, and it hurts.”

Though Michael was supposed to bury Terri’s remains in Pennsylvania, George Felos, the euthanasia advocate who is his lead attorney, told reporters Monday that it had taken place at Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park in Clearwater.

Because of the close proximity to where the Schindler family lives, they would have been able to attend the service had Michael notified them.

The statement Felos released Monday did not say why Michael chose to bury Terri in Florida nor why he did not invite the Schindler family to attend. Terri’s family learned of the burial through a fax from Felos only after reporters begin calling about it.

"We’re hopeful that there was some effort here to show some kindness" to the Schindlers, Gibbs said of the decision to bury Terri in Florida. Terri’s family had asked Michael to do so shortly before her death.

Related web sites:
Terri Schiavo’s family – https://www.terrisfight.org