When a Syracuse police officer received a call about someone residing in the Oakwood Cemetery, it’s understandable that they might have felt a bit apprehensive. However, what they discovered was far from frightening. Instead, they found 55-year-old Rhea Holmes peacefully sleeping on the cold ground beside her late husband’s grave.
Rhea shared 26 wonderful years of marriage with her beloved husband, Eddie. Together, they had saved enough money to purchase a small home in Syracuse, a dream they were excited to realize in 2024. Unfortunately, tragedy struck when Eddie suffered a heart attack on the very day they were set to finalize the purchase.
Devastated, Rhea used the down payment to secure a grave plot, a headstone, and a bench engraved with Eddie’s name, creating a special space where she could come to remember him. However, the loss plunged her into a deep depression, leading to job loss and eviction.
Feeling lost and alone, Rhea chose to return to the only place she felt connected to Eddie: his grave. Too proud to seek shelter, she volunteered at a local food kitchen where she could also enjoy a meal. Afterward, she would slip into the cemetery each night, sleeping beneath the stars. This continued from May 2025 until just recently.
“I thought I was going to die there,” Rhea reflected on her time at the cemetery, but then, “along comes an angel.”
That angel turned out to be Syracuse Police Officer Jamie Pastorello, who learned about Rhea’s situation from a retired colleague and decided to take action. He first arranged for a hotel room for her, then connected her with the president of LeMoyne College, who graciously offered Rhea a place to stay on campus during the winter break.
Finally, Officer Pastorello introduced her to a nonprofit organization called A Tiny Home for Good, which helped Rhea secure her very own tiny home at an affordable price.
“It was just the right thing to do,” Pastorello shared. “I wasn’t going to let Rhea sleep outside again. In just 20 days, she went from the cold, hard ground of a cemetery to having her own home.”
Officer Pastorello continues to visit Rhea, and during these moments, her warm and confident spirit shines through, reminding everyone of the love that Eddie had for her. It’s clear that she won’t be returning to the graveyard anytime soon, as she embraces her new beginning with hope and resilience.
Watch Rhea’s inspiring story below (tissues recommended)…
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