Judd Crandall's wife, Norma, died from complications related to her debilitating arthritis. Following her death, a deeply grief-stricken Jud made the desperate decision to bury her in the ancient, cursed Micmac burial ground, hoping to bring her back, an act he would soon come to profoundly regret.
The Passing of Norma Crandall
Norma Crandall, Jud's beloved wife, suffered from severe arthritis, which eventually led to her natural death. Her illness and passing are significant background elements in Pet Sematary, highlighting Jud's loneliness and his deep affection for her. Her death is portrayed as a tragic, yet natural, end to her suffering.
Jud's Desperate Act and Its Horrific Aftermath
Consumed by overwhelming grief and unable to bear life without Norma, Jud Crandall took a drastic and ill-advised step. Driven by desperation, he buried Norma's remains in the Micmac burial ground located beyond the pet cemetery, a place known to possess dark, reanimating powers. This decision, though born of love and sorrow, led to a horrific outcome.
While not explicitly detailed in the main narrative of Stephen King's novel or the widely released film adaptations, a deleted scene confirmed that Jud's attempt to resurrect Norma was successful – but with terrifying consequences. This scene reveals:
- Reanimation: Norma's body was indeed reanimated by the burial ground's power.
- The Monster: However, what returned was not the Norma Jud loved, but a malevolent, corrupted version of her, a common outcome for anything buried in that cursed earth.
- Jud's Regret: Faced with the monstrous entity that was once his wife, Jud was forced to confront the terrible mistake he had made. The deleted scene strongly implies he had to "put down" the reanimated Norma, a horrifying act that cemented his deep regret over his grief-motivated decision.
This traumatic experience profoundly affected Jud, transforming him into the solemn, burdened man who later warns Louis Creed about the dangers of the burial ground, constantly grappling with the consequences of his past actions. His knowledge of the true horror of the Micmac burial ground stems directly from his personal tragedy with Norma.
