I haven't been here in a few weeks so I would like to thank everyone that responded to my post.

As an update; As this thing with my FIL continues it becomes even more confusing (albeit fascinating) to me. It has, in my opinion, reached the level of the absurd. Relatives of my FIL who never had a good thing to say about him all of a sudden treat him as if they have always been the closest of friends. I'm guessing it's to mitigate the guilt they feel for treating him like crap all of their lives. So, I can only assume that they act this way for themselves and not really for him. I can't for the life of me figure out why people are so dishonest with themselves.
My lack of understanding in this situation has been creating even more problems with my immediate family. Apparently I have been too honest. Yes, I don't like the man, yes, I really don't care what happens to him BUT, I will still help out any way I can because it's the right thing to do. Apparently that is not good enough.

After half a century I still do not understand these so called 'normal' people (nor do I think I would care to) and I can only conclude that they don't understand themselves either.