Doris Mooren wanted to be buried in the same cemetery as her mother in northeast Ohio.
Mooren, of Northfield, died earlier this year. She was 92.
Her family aimed to fulfill that wish, flying from California over the weekend for a Monday morning (October 19) service.
But the suitcase containing Mooren's ashes went missing, her family discovered upon arriving at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport on Saturday (October 17).
"We don't care about the luggage, it's more what's in that box — burial box,” Harold Karaka, Doris’ son-in-law, said to News5Cleveland. “There's nothing to gain profit-wise from having that box…If they could give it back, we'd be most grateful."
Although American Airlines confirmed that the suitcase was scanned and arrived on a flight around 7 p.m., Karaka said, it was nowhere to be found. So, the family thinks someone might have taken the suitcase by mistake and hopes they will return it. They’re offering a $100 reward, according to News5Cleveland.
Karaka told 19News that it’s a black suitcase with blue duct tape and a bright pink tag on it. It contains the box holding Mooren’s ashes and her death certificate.
Anyone with information about the suitcase should report it to the Cleveland Hopkins Airport police.
"Doris, we kind of joked around and said maybe she wanted one more adventure before she left,” Karaka said. “So if that's the case, then thank you Doris, you should have warned us.”
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