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Schiavo grave stirs feelings anew

Some, including her parents, are upset at how her husband worded the inscription.

By ALEX LEARY and JIM DAMASKE
Published June 22, 2005

	[Times photo: Jim Damaske]
	Diane Gale of Palm Harbor visits Terri Schiavo's grave on Tuesday with her son, Rob, 13. She said she spent several days a week from January to March outside Schiavo's Pinellas Park hospice.

CLEARWATER - Diane Gale placed the flowers at the grave marker, kissed her fingers and touched the bronze engraving. But amid the tranquility of Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park, something bothered her.

It was the last line inscribed on Terri Schiavo's grave stone: "I KEPT MY PROMISE."

"He didn't have to do that," Gale said Tuesday, referring to Schiavo's husband, Michael. It was the "meanest thing he could do ... a vindictive unkind thing."

The Palm Harbor woman kept daily vigil outside the hospice where Terri Schiavo lay until she died following the court-ordered removal of her feeding tube in March. Gale said the words were a slap to Terri's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, who disputed their son-in-law's contention she did not want to be on artificial life support.

Yet Michael Schiavo's brother said Tuesday the line was not intended to hurt the Schindlers or their supporters. "It's a statement to his wife," Brian Schiavo said.

"It has absolutely nothing to do with them," he added. "The Schindlers need to come down off their high horse. Believe me, Michael is not thinking of the Schindlers that much."

The decision to inter the remains in Clearwater came as a surprise Monday because Michael Schiavo had said he would bury his wife's ashes in the family plot in Pennsylvania, angering the Schindlers, who live in Gulfport.

"He didn't really express any absolute reason why," Brian Schiavo said. He acknowledged, however, that his brother could have felt some consideration for the Schindlers and also may have wanted to be close to Terri as well. Michael Schiavo, who could not be reached for comment, lives in Clearwater.

Brian Schiavo defended the decision not to notify the Schindlers of the Monday afternoon burial, which was overseen by a priest. "After the way he was treated by them, do you think the first thing on his mind is to invite them?"

The 15-minute ceremony took place in a heavy rainstorm. A blue urn containing the ashes was placed in a lead box along with two of Terri's stuffed animals, both cats, Brian Schiavo said.

David Gibbs III, attorney for Terri's parents, said Tuesday the gathering was "clearly" a breach of a court order that Michael Schiavo notify the Schindlers of any memorial service. Brian Schiavo countered that it was not a memorial service and that his brother does not plan one.

The Schindlers planned to visit the burial site this week, Gibbs said, but have decided to wait. "They're hurt," he said. "It had been their hope that Terri's grave marker would have celebrated her life rather than memorializing her husband's decision to end her life. That's a decision that will forever remain a heartbreak to them."

Michael Schiavo was concerned about the grave site becoming besieged by those who fought to keep Terri alive but was assured by staff at Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park that there is adequate security, his brother said.

Only a few people visited the grave Tuesday. Cemetery workers kept a distant watch and seemed to check on the site after visitors left.

[Last modified June 22, 2005, 08:15:05]