Mandi Howard is weeping beside the casket of a stranger in the presence of unfamiliar faces. Despite not knowing the deceased, Howard felt compelled to attend. Last year, she experienced the sudden loss of her sister without the chance to bid farewell or hold a ceremony.
Upon learning about the need for volunteer pallbearers for the burial of an unclaimed body in Oshawa, Ont., Howard didn’t hesitate to participate. She expressed that she has family members who may be unclaimed due to homelessness or addictions, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging everyone’s worth.
Approximately a dozen individuals gathered for a brief service at an Oshawa cemetery. Following some casual conversation in the parking area, the group collaborated in lifting the coffin from the hearse. They adorned the grave with flowers, recited a poem, and spontaneously sang a rendition of “Amazing Grace.” Howard contributed by playing a drum and performing a traveling song.
Reflecting on the experience, Howard shared, “I don’t feel like I was with strangers. It truly feels like we were a group of relatives coming together to send somebody off who really deserved to know that they were loved.”
The deceased individual, identified only as Michael, resided in Toronto and was unhoused. In the absence of friends or family to claim the body, municipalities are tasked with arranging burials. Funeral director Nathan Romagnoli, who oversees eco Cremation and Burial Services in Mississauga, Ont., disclosed limited information about the deceased to the volunteer pallbearers.
Romagnoli mentioned that the recent burial was one of several unclaimed cases that week, including individuals of various demographics, even an infant. He highlighted the challenges faced by funeral directors and cemeteries in handling unclaimed bodies due to municipal payment rates.
The surge in unclaimed bodies in Ontario, particularly during the pandemic, has been notable. In 2024, the chief coroner reported 1,436 unclaimed bodies, with the majority located in Toronto.
Raymond Wieser, a genealogist who has been volunteering as a pallbearer since the pandemic, emphasized the importance of honoring individuals without family connections. He described the volunteers as a “family of strangers” united in showing respect and dignity during the burial process.
Wieser noted the exceptional turnout of volunteers for the recent burial, indicating a shift in societal care and empathy towards those who may otherwise be overlooked.
