While they’re known for honoring their own, members of the Delaware State Police Honor Guard also showed their compassion for a local woman who had never been in uniform. The troopers volunteered as pallbearers to make sure the forgotten woman received a proper funeral.
Valeria Mayer died at the age of 64 back on Jan. 8 at an assisted living facility in Wilmington, Delaware. Workers at the facility told Delaware Online Mayer had been sick and was in a great deal of pain before she passed. She also had few family or friends, which became apparent when the News Journal put out a notice for someone to claim her remains but no one came forward.
Not wanting Mayer to die alone, Andrea McClain, a worker at the assisted living facility, began reaching out to local funeral homes for help. She eventually got in contact with Chandler Funeral Homes, who informed her that Mayer’s remains would go into a blank state grave unless a church with a cemetery stepped in and made a donation.
McClain then reached out to Mark Christian, the executive director of the Catholic Diocese cemeteries. The Diocese then donated a plot at All Saints Cemetery in Delaware. Despite all this, Mayer still needed pallbearers for her funeral. That’s where Delaware State Police stepped in.
After reading about Mayer’s story, members of the Delaware State Police Honor Guard, who service funerals for fallen Troopers, retired Troopers and dignitaries, decided to lend a helping hand. They attended Mayer’s service Friday afternoon and then carried the casket to Mayer’s final resting place.
“This is a great example of how Delaware Troopers are showing a real caring and genuine concern for others in Delaware,” said a Delaware State police spokesperson. “We can come together to help each other through difficult times.”
