'We just want our mom back': Chestermere family asks for safe return of their mother's ashes

A family in Chestermere is asking for the return of their mother’s ashes, which were stolen during a break and enter Tuesday morning.

At around 9:30 a.m., Deanna Thompson said her brother’s home in the Cove in Chestermere was robbed.

None of the stolen articles mattered except the ashes of her recently deceased mother, Thompson said.

“They were inside a red velvet bag with the box inside,” she said. “We didn’t notice it until later in the afternoon that they were gone.”

Thompson’s mother, Anna Thompson, died Dec. 16, 2025. After receiving her ashes on Dec. 23, the family planned to hold a funeral on Jan. 17 when she would be buried.

Now, everyone in her family is trying to bring her remains home.

“We don’t care about anything else,” she said. “We just want our mom back.”

Her brother, Joshua Thompson, said his family was devastated to learn that the ashes had been stolen.

Tools, money and an iPad were also taken. After pinging the location of the device, it was shown to be in northeast Calgary near McKnight and Aviation Boulevard.

“We drove around for hours last night checking garbage cans, looking on the side of the road, and now we are spreading the word as much as we can on social media,” Joshua said. “I’ve posted flyers on mailboxes and local businesses in the neighbourhood. We’re really hoping to get her back soon.”

At the time of the break in, Joshua said he was out with his wife, while his kids were in school.

Suspects dressed like utility workers caught on doorbell camera

“We have a Ring camera, and we saw the people walk in front of it,” he said. “One guy was dressed as a utility worker, and we honestly didn’t think much of it until we got home a few hours later.”

The first person was dressed in work coveralls and wearing a white hard hat, while the second was wearing a black hoodie, light coloured pants, dark shoes and a backpack.

“We’re hoping that somebody might have additional footage,” Deanna said. “But, at the end of the day, I hope whoever did it sees this and just drops her off somewhere we can find her. I don’t care about anything else.”

Deanna said she has filed reports with Chestermere RCMP and CPS.

The ashes are in a plastic bag inside a faux leather box with stitching on it. The lid to the box is hinged with a metal clasp, and is inside red velvet bag with a gold tassel. Inside the same bag is paperwork with the address it can be returned to.

“I think they probably just thought it was something expensive,” she said. “They didn’t realize what it was. It’s not important to them, but it’s really important to us.”

Deanna called the loss of the ashes “absolutely devastating. It’s as bad as her dying to not have her with us.

“I just hope that they have the decency to do the right thing. And even if they threw them out, report it to us so we can go look for it. I just desperately want them back.”

Deanna and Joshua are asking anyone with any information or footage relating to the event to reach out. Both can be found on Facebook, and Deanna can be contacted at 403-869-4694.

dgonzalez@postmedia.com