Ailing man plans for bowling ball burial

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WILKINS, Pa., Aug. 13 (UPI) -- A Pennsylvania man diagnosed with Stage IV prostate cancer said he has made arrangements for his ashes to be placed in a replica of a special bowling ball.

Tony Guarino, 48, of Wilkins, who was diagnosed only a week after his wedding four years ago, said he and his wife, Stacey, visited a funeral home last fall to make arrangements for his ailing mother and they decided to make plans for their own cremations, the online Pittsburgh Press reported Monday.

Guarino said he thought it would be "neat" to have his ashes stored in a bowling ball -- specifically a replica of the Storm X Factor Ace bowling ball he used to roll a perfect game in 2001.

Stacey Guarino called Mike Sargent, the technical customer service manager at Storm Bowling Products, in Brigham City, Utah, and asked about creating a bowling ball urn.

"Right away, it was something that I knew I wasn't going to say no to," Sargent said.

The Guarinos said they had the bowling ball urn in their possession eight months later.

Tony Guarino's doctor said he likely has years of life left, but the cancer has spread to his spine and he was forced to quit bowling last month due to being exhausted from chemotherapy.

"He'll always be able to bowl, even though he can't physically do it anymore," Stacey Guarino said.