Legendary radio DJ and host Casey Kasem will reportedly be buried in Norway. An NBC News report broke the story after a letter written by his wife Jean explained that Kasem thought that Norway symbolized peace and “looked like heaven.” Because of this, Jean wrote that she would like to respect Kasem’s wishes.
Before his death, Jean and Kasem’s children continually fought over his treatment, even filing several legal actions to gain control over his care. Because of the constant bickering and debate over how he should be cared for, it is no surprise that they have a difference of opinion over Kasem’s final resting place.
Kasem’s children believe that he should be buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, California, since he spent a majority of his professional life in Southern California. It remains to be seen whether there will be further litigation over this issue, especially given how his body was flown from Washington (where he passed away) to Montreal, Canada. However, officials in Oslo report that Kasem’s body has not arrived in Norway, which begs the question of whether Jean intends to bury him there.
Nevertheless, the longstanding dispute is an example of why it is helpful for people to have detailed wills that explain one’s wishes as far as where they would like to be buried, or to designate someone to decide where the final resting place shall be. There is nothing like family bickering over burial sites, funerals and costs to create fractures that often go unaddressed for years.
If you have questions about drafting a will, an estate planning attorney can help.
Source: NBCnews.com “Casey Kasem to be buried in Norway ‘Because it’s like heaven,’ Maria Elena Fernandez, August 15, 2014