Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, August 23, 1994                   TAG: 9408230097
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE                                LENGTH: Medium

MOTHER'S STORED ASHES GO TO HIGHEST BIDDER

A mix-up in the final due date led to the sale of all of the couple's possessions this month, including a box containing the ashes of Gloria Torres' mother.

``I can't believe they did this,'' the daughter said. ``I've lost everything. I've lost my mother.''

The couple had rented the space for more than a year, ever since Jose Torres retired from the Navy. ``My husband was out of work for a little bit, but we always made the payment by the last due date,'' Gloria Torres said.

Always, that is, until this month.

The couple received a notice from Dick Kelly Real Estate Co., which manages the storage site, that warned their July rent of $55 was late and had to be paid with a $10 late fee by Aug. 10.

Otherwise, the letter said, ``a lien will be placed on the contents and subject to public auction on Wednesday 8-12-94.'' However, Aug. 12 was a Friday.

``I called them on the 8th and told them I would be there to pay the bill on the 11th,'' Gloria Torres said. ``And the woman said, `Fine, as long as you're here before the auction on the 12th.'''

But when Torres arrived, she was told that the auction had been held a day earlier.

Melissa Johnson, property manager for the real estate firm, said the agency made several attempts to contact the couple. Johnson also said the error in the date was corrected in a second letter, but Torres said she never got that letter.

The auctioned possessions included family photo albums, baby pictures of Gloria Torres' children and herself, birth certificates, her wedding dress, a dining room set, an antique clock and jewelry.

Among the belongings was a small, lacquered black box with the words, ``The remains of Nancy Vogel'' on the lid. It sold for $170.

``There were things in there that a million dollars could never replace,'' Torres said. ``If I could just have one thing back, it'd be my mother.''

Buyers at such auctions typically include flea market operators and thrift store owners. The real estate company has a policy of not revealing the names of buyers at its auctions.

``It's a sad situation to see people's stuff auctioned off, but it's not within our control, it's within theirs,'' said Jean Opsahl, a supervisor for the real estate firm. ``The rent is due on the first.''