Widow Says Husband's Gold Teeth Lost During San Antonio Cremation

SAN ANTONIO -- A local widow's husband died and was cremated nearly a month ago. Now the woman says she wants to know what happened to her late husband's three gold teeth.

The widow says at first she wanted to sell the gold teeth, but now she just wants closure.

Doris and Joe Gerber shared 35 years together. Doris said they were the best years of her life.

Just two years ago things seriously changed for the couple.

"We came here on a visit. We always come (to Texas) in November or December," said the widow.

But, their visit became permanent after Gerber suffered from a stroke.

"They have really wonderful hospitals here in Texas... and rest homes, so I put him in a home here," she continued.

Then, last September Gerber died from a second stroke. The family chose to make his final arrangements at Schaetter's Funeral Home.

A few days after Gerber's cremation, Doris called the funeral home to ask about his death certificate and his three gold teeth.

"And they said, 'Well, gold teeth is of no value,' and I know they are," she says.

Previously Doris had sold two of her late husband's teeth for nearly $175.

"He had always saved his gold teeth in a little cup, in a little thing. And he said, 'Doris, when I die you get my teeth and you, you know, you sell them,'" she recalled.

Doris said the funeral home told her the teeth were cremated along with her husband and that the teeth dissipate in the process.

" I don't believe that, either," said the widow.

We spoke to the funeral president by phone. He did not want to go on camera but gave us this statement:

"Mr. Gerber was cremated as the family wished. We do not know anything about any gold teeth."

According to officials at the Texas Funeral Service Commission, something gold should not dissipate during the cremation process. However they plan to investigate the matter.

SOURCE