Local College Offered Housing to Woman, 55, Who Was Living in a Cemetery After Her Husband’s Unexpected Death

A woman experiencing homelessness began sleeping in the cemetery where her late husband was buried — until a police officer recognized her story and stepped in to help. With support from a local college and a nonprofit, she was eventually able to move into a home and start rebuilding.

Rhea Holmes and her husband of 26 years, Eddie Holmes, had made an offer on a modest house in Syracuse in 2020. But not long after, Eddie died suddenly from a heart condition. Rhea, 55, redirected the money they had planned to use for the home and instead purchased a burial plot for Eddie at Oakwood Cemetery, CBS News and Syracuse.com reported.

Eddie’s death triggered a deep depression for Rhea, who had been working as an administrative assistant at a hospital. She lost her job, was later evicted, and eventually began sleeping near her husband’s grave.

“This is what I purchased,” she told CBS News, standing in front of Eddie’s plot. She said she didn’t tell people she’d lost her housing because she “didn’t want people to worry.”

“I assumed that I was going to die there,” Rhea said, referring to the graveyard.

Cemetery staff eventually alerted police that someone was sleeping on the property.

Officer James Pastorello learned of the situation and realized he had recently encountered Rhea. Just days earlier, he had given her a ride to the cemetery, believing she was simply visiting a loved one, Syracuse.com reported.

“I was completely shocked,” Pastorello, 33, told the outlet. “When I found out she was sleeping outside, especially with how cold it was getting, that really hit me.”

Determined to act quickly, Pastorello paid for a hotel room so Rhea could get out of the cold. He then began reaching out to people he knew to see if anyone could help identify a more stable solution.

A friend connected Pastorello with Linda LeMura, president of Le Moyne College, who offered Rhea temporary shelter in an unused campus home while school was closed for winter break.

“It was clear that Rhea’s situation was dire,” LeMura said. “Central New York winters can be brutal, so it was imperative that we found a temporary place for her to live while a long-term solution was being identified.”

LeMura added that the decision to help was immediate, noting the school’s commitment to social justice and community care.

Pastorello then launched a GoFundMe to help Rhea secure permanent housing so she could “begin rebuilding her life.”

As word spread, the nonprofit A Tiny Home for Good — which provides small homes for people in need and was founded by a Le Moyne alumnus — reached out and offered placement.

Rhea moved into a one-bedroom, 300-square-foot home on Jan. 5.

“I wasn’t thinking past getting through the day before. Now I can,” she told Syracuse.com.

“My old house was so close to the cemetery, and this feels like a true new beginning,” she added, calling Pastorello her “angel.” “It’s amazing. I don’t even have the words to describe it.”

Rhea said the experience changed how she sees herself — and how she hopes others see people in crisis.

“So many people feel invisible,” she said. “All it took was one person stopping to care.”