BY: STAFF REPORT | BocaNewsNow.com
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2021 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A Boca Raton woman whose body is set to be cremated has a son who wants her body to remain in one piece.
Fern Spott of Boca Raton died in late July. Her body, according to the lawsuit, is set to be cremated by “Gary Panoch Funeral Home Cremations of Boca Raton.” But son Clifford Spott says the cremation order is part of family drama and is against the wishes of his now deceased mom.
The petition was just filed in Palm Beach County Circuit Court.
This is text from the filing. As of mid-day Wednesday, there is no record filed of a decision being made:
“CLIFFORD R. SPOTT, the son of the decedent FERN R. SPOTT, now petitions this Court to enjoin GARY PANOCH FUNERAL HOME CREMATIONS OF BOCA RATON, INC. (“The Funeral Home”), from taking any other action in connection with the disposal of the body of his mother from him, the decedent, FERN R. SPOTT. UNDERLYING FACTS 1. The decedent, FERN R. SPOTT, whose residence was in Palm Beach County, died in her home in Boca Raton on July 31, 2021, and her body is currently located at the Funeral Home who has been contacted regarding this situation and Petitioner has confirmed with Mr. Gary Panoch that the Funeral Home is contracted to cremate the remains of FERN R. SPOTT. The decedent was born and raised Jewish. 3. Petitioner, Clifford R. Spott, is a resident of Israel, and is the son of the decedent. 4. The Funeral Home operates as a crematory and funeral home in Palm Beach County, with its principal place of business located at 6140 N. Federal Highway Boca Raton, Florida 33487.
2 of 8 5. After Petitioner received notice of Decedent’s death, he immediately set forth to ensure that the Decedent would be buried in accordance with her wishes. Petitioner was informed that certain family members had expressed their intent to cremate the Decedent’s body instead. 6. Upon information and belief, the Funeral Home is scheduled in the immediate future to transfer Decedent’s remains for that cremation. 7. Petitioner knows that Decedent desired to have her remains buried in a burial plot she owns right next to her late husband of hers in Mt. Olive Cemetery located in Solon, Ohio. 8. Petitioner does not seek a judicial declaration that he has the unilateral right to control the disposition of the Decedent’s body. Rather, he is merely seeking an injunction forbidding the Funeral Home from disposing of the body of FERI SPOTT or taking any other action in connection with the disposal of Decedent’s boc until this matter can be resolved to allow for the Decedent’s wishes de ella to be fulfilled.”
It’s unclear when a judge may rule on the petition, or even if Ms. Spott was cremated before the request was filed.
