An Ohio family says their mother, Nancy Anders, was cremated despite what they claim were specific burial plans and an alleged lack of authorization. The lawsuit targets Tidd Funeral Home in Hilliard, after the family was told “mom was cremated” about ten days
An Ohio family opened the door expecting answers—and instead says it heard the words that ended any chance of carrying out their mother’s final wishes.
Nancy Anders, the family alleges, was cremated by Tidd Funeral Home in Hilliard, Ohio, even though she had made detailed plans for how she wanted to be buried and, according to the lawsuit, was not supposed to be cremated. The case was filed this week.
In court filings viewed by People over the weekend, the Anders family claims Nancy was cremated despite having allegedly never authorized cremation. The complaint points to a death date of May 28, 2025, when Nancy Anders died at the age of 83.
After the earlier death of her husband, John “Jack” Anders, the family says Nancy spent months organizing her final arrangements. They say her burial wishes were specific enough that she wanted to be laid to rest alongside her husband at Union Cemetery. The lawsuit also claims that plan required approval from a probate court before she could be buried in the same casket as John “Jack” Anders—an approval process the family says took time.
The lawsuit alleges funeral home employees reassured the family that the delay would not cause problems. In the filing, the family says the funeral home told them “the delay would not be an issue and that their mother’s body could be kept at their facility for an extended period of time.”
But the family says that promise collapsed about ten days later. When they returned, they allege they were told by a funeral home employee that “there had been an accident and that ‘mom was cremated.’”
The Anders family says the impact has been devastating—not only because they believe their mother’s wishes were ignored. but because they say they believed the arrangements were being carried out as planned. The lawsuit describes profound emotional harm. claiming family members endured “sleepless nights. suffered physical illness and emotional trauma. serious injury. and experienced severe mental anguish knowing that their mother’s final wishes were ignored and that she had been cremated against her express wishes.”.
They are seeking monetary damages and have requested a jury trial.
The complaint uses especially sharp language to describe the family’s allegations about what happened. It says the defendants’ decision to cremate Nancy Anders “without authorization. knowing that cremation was against her beliefs. was so reckless. extreme and outrageous as to go beyond the bounds of decency and would be considered utterly intolerable in a civilized society.” It adds that the defendants “knew or should have known that cremating Nancy Anders against her wishes would result in serious emotional distress to her family.”.
At this point, the court process will determine what exactly occurred and who may be responsible. For the Anders family. though. the core fact remains the same: they say they went to extraordinary lengths to honor Nancy Anders’ final plans—and are now left with an outcome they say could never be undone.
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