My mother died in 2016. For years, my brother had promised her that when she passed, he would scatter her ashes from his little plane, over places she had selected.
Now, over 5 years later, I still have her ashes at my house. My brother refuses to talk to me, doesn't respond to my emails, etc. I don't mind being cut off; I think it's sad, because we were very close as children, but I'm far more interested in making sure our mother's wishes are carried out.
Right now, I think my only option is contacting his neighbors (who are very fond of him), and asking them to tell him that he needs to get the ashes and scatter them as he promised. I don't like involving other people, but I have no other way to contact him.
Any advice would be welcome.
It would be quite intrusive to involve your brother's innocent neighbors in this, though. This is a private, family matter.
And for heaven's sake, leave the neighbors out of it.