No one wants to die alone and that's why a Lakeshore church has held a special service to remember local unclaimed bodies that didn't have a proper funeral.
Father Gary Goyeau of Good Shepherd Parish said around 1,900 bodies went unclaimed in Ontario last year.
The local special tribute was inspired by the deaths of three residents at Victoria Manor in downtown Windsor in one week in 2014 who went unclaimed and didn't have a proper burial. Executive Director Leigh Vachon realized that they needed to do much more to ensure that anyone who resided in the home would be remembered. The "Celebration of Life" service was born after she began thinking about all of the people in the Windsor community who do not have people to remember them.
Father Goyeau said it's a beautiful tribute to those who have no one but unfortunately it's a growing trend.
"It's growing. With the aging population, many people's family and friends have died and they are alone," said Father Goyeau.
A Lakeshore church has held a special service to remember local unclaimed bodies that didn't have a proper funeral. May 22, 2019. (Photo by Paul Pedro)
Father Goyeau said it's important to remember those who died alone and were unclaimed for burial.
"All life is sacred and it's important that they have prayers said for them and a burial," he added.
Father Goyeau said he prays no one ever dies alone and said this is a celebration of their lives lived.
"Coming and remembering them, even though they might not know their name or where they lived or how they lived or what they did but they were important," Father Goyeau said.
This year's theme is "A Life Lived has Meaning”.
The first "Celebration of Life" service was held last year.
