Many may recognize Rhea Holmes and Jamie Pastorello from a photo taken at Oakwood Cemetery in Syracuse, New York, on the cold morning of December 13, 2025.
That day, Rhea was seen walking through the park with a box of food balanced on her head. After being offered a ride, it became clear she was heading to the cemetery — a place she regularly visited to grieve the recent loss of her husband and father. What wasn’t known at first was that Rhea was also experiencing homelessness, spending nights in the cemetery with nowhere safe to go.
Rhea’s life was reshaped by loss and grief, and it ultimately cost her everything. Yet even through hardship, she remains compassionate, kind, and deeply human — reminding others of the strength and dignity often carried by those who go unseen.
Now the goal is to help Rhea rebuild her life with safety, stability, and a home she can truly call her own. Rhea deserves a second chance — not only at housing, but at dignity, comfort, and hope.
If you’re able, please consider donating to help Rhea secure safe housing. And if donating isn’t possible, sharing this page can be just as powerful. Thank you for helping offer Rhea a path forward.