May 2 memorial to honor lives of 59 residents without family or financial means for final arrangements

The County of Sonoma will hold a memorial service May 2 to honor the lives of 59 individuals who died without family or the financial means to arrange for cremation or burial. The public is invited to attend the 2 p.m. ceremony at Pleasant Hills Memorial Park and Mortuary, 1700 Pleasant Hill Road in Sebastopol.

Organized by the Sonoma County Human Services Department and the Office of the Public Administrator, the memorial service provides a dignified farewell for people whose passing might have otherwise been overlooked. It is the fourth consecutive year the County has hosted this service.

“Every person deserves to be treated with dignity, not only in life but also in death,” said Angela Struckmann, director of the Human Services Department. “These individuals were part of our community, and this memorial is a way for us to pause, remember and honor their lives. It reflects our commitment to ensuring no one in our community is forgotten.”

Each year, approximately 4,400 people die in Sonoma County. When no next-of-kin can be found — or family members are unable to afford final arrangements — cases are classified as "unclaimed" and referred to the Public Administrator’s Office. The County makes every effort to locate estate planning documents, sufficient assets, or loved ones to assume responsibility for cremation or burial. If none can be identified, the Sonoma County Sheriff-Coroner arranges and pays for cremation.

In 2025, 59 individuals were laid to rest through this program. The cremated remains of most individuals were spread in the Rose Garden at Pleasant Hills Memorial Park. The cremated remains of four veterans were transported to the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery with assistance from the County’s Veterans Remains Officer and volunteer veterans. 

The Human Services Department began holding the annual memorial service in 2023 to ensure everyone cremated by the County receives a meaningful remembrance. Since 2010, the program has interred the cremated remains of approximately 680 individuals at Pleasant Hills Memorial Park. Many of these individuals were unhoused, estranged from family, or simply outlived their loved ones.

The May 2 ceremony will feature a performance by the Threshold Singers and remarks from Jeremia Mills, assistant director of the Human Services Department; Paul Dunaway, director of the department’s Adult and Aging Division; and Jasdeep Singh, chief deputy public administrator. 

All are welcome to attend, regardless of faith or religious beliefs. Registration is not required. 

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Media Contact:  
Susan Hsieh, Communications Manager 
Sonoma County Human Services Department 
shsieh@sonomacounty-hsd.gov  
(707) 565-8085