Casey Kasem’s eldest daughter, Kerri Kasem, obtained a restraining order to prevent a Tacoma, Washington funeral home from cremating her father’s remains before an autopsy is performed. However, when Kasem’s attorney showed up at Gaffney Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Tacoma, the remains of the deceased were missing. It has since been discovered that the remains were shipped to Montreal at the behest of Kasem’s widow, Jean.

Kasem and her stepmother had been arguing for more than a year prior to her father’s death, with the former claiming elder abuse by her stepmother contributed to her father’s demise. The media has speculated about why Casey Kasem’s remains were shipped to Montreal, which is the hometown of Mrs. Kasem’s alleged lover.

Casey Kasem passed away on June 15 at the age of 82. Following a police report filed by his daughter that removed Kasem from his wife’s care, he was admitted to St. Anthony Hospital in Gig Harbor, Washington for an infected bedsore. He remained there for two weeks until his passing. Kasem had been suffering from dementia and was on bed rest prior to his death. His daughter Kerri was granted conservatorship of her father in the last few weeks of his life. However, she continued to spar with her stepmother over decisions related to end-of-life care.

Casey Kasem was best known as the ebullient radio host of “American Top 40” and the voice of Scooby-Doo’s Shaggy. He is survived by his wife, Jean, and three children from a previous marriage.

Prepare your end-of-life plan to avoid family disputes

[separator top=”-20″] It is unknown whether Kasem had prepared a will or end-of-life plan. As with the Kasems, many families require help from attorneys to settle estate disputes. However, individuals minimize lengthy legal battles by drafting a will and choosing a funeral or cremation plan.

Decisions related to funerals and cremations require careful consideration and shouldn’t be rushed. In Kasem’s case, his daughter was not ready for him to be cremated or shipped out of the country. A detailed cremation plan would have settled the arising dispute and cleared up any misperceptions about the deceased’s wishes.

For making important decisions about your last wishes, we recommend talking to a professional cremation planner to create a plan and communicate your wishes. It’s the best way to avoid stressful situations during a difficult time. For more information on Smart Cremation options, call us today: (503) 402-2578.