For Deanna Thompson of Chestermere, a phone call from a Calgary funeral home on the morning of Friday, January 9, 2026, brought an overwhelming wave of relief and joy. It was the news she had been desperately praying for: the stolen cremated remains of her mother, Anna Thompson, had been found and returned.
A Devastating Violation During Grief
The family's ordeal began on the morning of Tuesday, January 6, 2026. Thieves broke into the Chestermere home of Deanna's brother, Joshua Thompson, located in the community of the Cove. The intruders forced their way through a back door, making off with tools, cash, and an iPad.
In a particularly cruel twist, the burglars also took a red velvet bag. Inside was a faux leather box containing the ashes of Anna Thompson, who had passed away on December 16, 2025. The theft threw the family's mourning into chaos, badly marring plans for Anna's funeral, which was scheduled for January 17.
Home surveillance footage captured two men fleeing the scene. One was dressed in work coveralls and a white hard hat, while the other wore a black hoodie, light-coloured pants, dark shoes, and a backpack. The video appeared to show them carrying the distinctive velvet bag to a vehicle parked three doors away.
A Frantic Search and a Hopeful Discovery
The Thompson family immediately launched a multi-pronged effort to recover their mother's ashes. They used technology to ping the stolen iPad's location, which led them to an area in northeast Calgary near McKnight Boulevard and Aviation Boulevard.
They notified both the Calgary Police Service and the RCMP. Not stopping there, the siblings took to social media to spread the word and posted physical flyers on neighbourhood mailboxes and local businesses, pleading for the ashes' return.
Their desperate campaign culminated in a hopeful discovery. A maintenance worker at a McGinnis and Holloway Funeral Home location on Memorial Drive and 52 Street N.E. in Calgary found the red velvet bag. Attached was a handwritten note that read: "I found these ashes in an alley with this certificate. Please make sure they are returned to the family."
"Absolutely Elated": A Family's Relief and Gratitude
Upon receiving the call, Deanna Thompson rushed to the funeral home. "They said 'we have her'," she recounted. "We're absolutely elated. It was hard for me to even comprehend... I was praying for that call."
The family expressed profound gratitude to the anonymous person who returned the ashes, whether it was one of the burglars or a stranger who found them. "It doesn't matter to me – someone brought them and I thank them whether it's the thieves or not," Deanna stated. "We have them back – that's all that matters."
With the ashes safely recovered, the family can now proceed with Anna Thompson's funeral as planned. They are choosing to look back on the traumatic episode with a sense of relief and even a touch of the humour their mother appreciated. "My mom loved adventure and we kind of joked that 'it's her last adventure' and now we can breathe," said Deanna, who also thanked media, friends, and family for their support.
As of January 9, the family had not received word of any arrests related to the break-in. The investigation by authorities is ongoing, but for the Thompsons, the most precious item has been restored, allowing them to focus on honouring their mother's memory.
