Stolen statue with woman's ashes returned to its owners

(From The Chicago Sun-Times)

"A statue containing the ashes of a gay activist has been recovered after it had been stolen from an Uptown memorial garden last month.

Over the weekend, the Bird Girl sculpture was found outside the Howard Brown Health Center, which last year created the garden to honor lesbian health advocates Mary York and Lisa Tonna, who died last year.

York's ashes were mixed with the cement that anchors the resin sculpture. Because it's in good condition, there are no plans to pursue the culprit.

'Mary York had the best sense of humor of anyone I've ever known,' said Paul Fairchild, the center's chief development officer. 'I think she would have forgiven them, and so must we.'"