Dying alone: region steps up to help put unclaimed bodies to rest
Posted Feb 12, 2023 01:00:00 PM.
When someone dies, family and friends will gather and mourn the person they just lost, but when a body goes unclaimed it's up to the region to organize the burial.
Last year, eight people were laid to rest by the Region of Waterloo after their bodies went unclaimed by family or friends. This is done to ensure the individual, while dying alone, will still have a dignified burial and proper send off.
“Really being able to be there for someone when they have no one else is so impactful,” said Sherry Phillips, manager of employment and income support for Waterloo Region.
The region is required under the province's Anatomy Act to facilitate and provide a service for bodies that go unclaimed. This involves working with police and the coroner's office to confirm no one has claimed the body and then reaching out to local funeral homes to pay for the burial.
“Depending on where the person was residing, we will connect with the corresponding funeral home and take over the responsibility for the burial and the service,” said Phillips. “The homes in Cambridge will all take turns and lay them to rest in a nearby cemetery.”
The Lounsbury Funeral Home at 1766 Franklin Blvd. works with the region and will typically get the call from the region for one or two unclaimed bodies a year.
“They will give us a call and send over a cheque that will cover the casket, transportation and a plot at a local cemetery,” said Steve Pool, managing director for Lounsbury Funeral Home. “It's important to us that these people still have a dignified send off, despite being alone.”
When a burial happens, a representative from Lounsbury will travel with the casket, be present for the burial and often times say a few words for the deceased.
“We think no matter what your circumstances were in life, you should always have someone at your funeral to say one final goodbye,” said Pool. “Even though we might not know anything about them, we try to say a few words or even have a moment of quiet reflection to honour those that passed.”
In the past few years Pool has noticed they have gotten a few more calls for unclaimed individuals, but the number remains low. All of the funeral homes in Cambridge operate as a network that will facilitate these burials and services for unclaimed individuals.
The region doesn't just take on the responsibility of laying the unclaimed to rest, they will also financially assist families who cannot cover the full cost of a serivice for their loved ones.
In 2022, the region provided assistance to 347 families at a cost of $517,000.
“Having to bury a loved one is a significant and traumatic time for many families,” said Phillips. “To be able to offer that financial support when they don't have access to anything else, I think it's critical, because then it enables them to have that meaningful end of life experience for a loved one.”
A funeral home will reach out to the region and ask if they can help in any way, a process Phillips thinks is a great way the region can really help its residents.
Corbett Funeral Home, located at 95 Dundas St. N., is the sister location to Lounsbury; their funeral director Kevin Medeiros works closely with the region in organizing these services. The region even has a designated casket to give families an affordable option.
“Being an independent funeral home, we don't try to push anything extra on families coming in” said Medeiros. “We want to be as accommodating as possible and the region helps with that.”
Families can reach out to the region directly or work with their funeral home to request financial assistance.
“No one should have to be put to rest alone or if a family doesn't have the means to, they should get some help,” said Pool. “Death is a natural part of life, we all go through it, so why not help those in need.”
