Some families of victims of 9/11 felt their pain a little eased by having a little piece to bury. An awful lot got nothing.
I can certainly understand why a catholic family would want some little part of her earthly remains. There's a reliquary with a piece of bone of St. Bernadette in the altar area of the church I converted in, along with a certificate of authenticity. The priest unlocked it and showed it to us.
It is a catholic tradition. It's disrespect for the whole catholic religion not to allow the catholic parents something of her earthly remains to comfort them if for no other reason.
9/11 is a different thing, they wanted something to give last prayers to.
But yea, Catholics depending on where are more fussy about the body. But cremation is acceptable more now. I think the rule is that you must have the body for the service, "send off" or whatever it's called. So by modern Catholic practice, she's getting a proper service. They are younger don't forget.
You can look it up inthe Catholic encyclopedia, I read about it in there at one time.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/
There's been a lot of discussion here about Michael's attorney being caught up in 'scientology.' Surely you can see, that simply because someone's relative's religion specifies thus or so is no reason to abrogate the law. The RCC can hold any ceremony they wish for Terri, with or without a bone chip or a lock of hair. [Hint: this is 2005.]