PALERMO, Italy, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- An Italian family said they were forced to bury their 68-year-old mother even though they believe she was still alive.

The family of Grazi Bruno, 68, said she wasn't really dead because her body showed no decomposition or rigor mortis, which normally occurs after death, the ANSA news agency reported Friday.


The family fought with municipal authorities over their mother's body for eight days after two medical authorities confirmed she died from pancreatic cancer.

The family held a funeral in the town of Villagrazia di Carini near the capital of Palermo.

"For us, we will always regret that we buried our mother while she was still alive," one family member, whose name wasn't reported, said.

"Anyone in their place would have acted in same way," said priest Antonino Caruso. "Better to err on the side of caution than on indifference and distraction," the priest said during Mass.

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