Shortly before those events, Quoyle's elderly parents die by suicide together. Quoyle's aunt, Agnis Hamm, arrives to pay her respects to her late brother, though her real motive is to steal Guy's ashes (which she later dumps down an outhouse hole and urinates on).
Before the tragic events, Quoyle's elderly parents died together. Agnis Hamm visits to pay her respects to her deceased brother, but secretly intends to obtain Guy's remains (which she later disposes of by burying them in a septic tank and urinating on them).