Los Angeles honors 2,000 unclaimed lives lost to pandemic

Los Angeles has paid tribute to nearly 2,000 individuals who tragically lost their lives during the initial year of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The solemn event was attended by religious figures, political leaders, and compassionate citizens come together to witness the cremated remains being laid to rest in a communal grave.

LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis, addressing the gathering, expressed, “In 2020, sadly 1,937 residents passed away without a next of kin coming forward to claim their remains. And it is those lives that we honor… today.”

She emphasized the impact of the pandemic on vulnerable communities, stating, “The life of every resident in the county is very important to us, regardless of who they were, where they came from, where they lived, who they loved, and how they passed.”

Los Angeles, among the hardest-hit counties in the United States, witnessed approximately 3.7 million Covid-19 cases in the three years leading up to March 2023, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The grim toll amounted to over 35,000 deaths during this period.

This annual tradition, dating back to 1896, was orchestrated by the county’s Office of Decedent Affairs.

Tasked with managing cremation and burial for indigent/unclaimed individuals within the county, the office provides a compassionate service for those without next of kin.

A poignant detail is the three-year waiting period, allowing family members to claim the cremated remains of their loved ones.