ROYAL PALM BEACH | The No One Buried Alone ministry marked its 15th anniversary June 6, 2026, with a compassion service at Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery for 100 souls who died without family or friends to handle their funeral arrangements. The number of cremated remains recalled the 100-year-old hospice patient who died June 9, 2011, and inspired the ministry’s formation.
Talking with the Florida Catholic before the service, Father Gabriel Ghanoum spoke about Victoria Scalia, who was born May 29, 1911. Shortly after beginning employment at JFK Hospital in Atlantis, he met Scalia in the cardiovascular intensive care unit. When she died the next day, “In my naïve way, I said, ‘Well, we have to call the family.’ Came to find out she had no family. So, I said, ‘What do we do?’ I called Father Glen (Pothier at the Diocese of Palm Beach). He was the link. I said, ‘I cannot let her go.’ So, I started investigating.”
His work gained him contacts at the Catholic cemetery and with Palm Beach County. Adriana Gorrondona, with Palm Beach County Community Services, Human Services Division, said the collaboration on No One Buried Alone is unique.
“I get calls from all over the country, from New York, from different counties, and they ask me, ‘How are you able?’ There is no book, just a collaboration. The community cares enough,” she said. “But people are amazed. Even Broward County, Miami-Dade, all the counties surrounding here call me to say, ‘Wow, this in unbelievable that you have that.’ Because it is such a responsibility to claim the cases.”
As head of No One Buried Alone, Father Ghanoum takes responsibility for giving a dignified burial to the cremated remains of children and adults of all ages, races and religious affiliations, including miscarried and stillborn babies, from various funeral homes throughout Palm Beach County.
“We’re so grateful to the cemetery because, not only do they donate the crypts for it, but the love and detail they put into every service. To me, that is just amazing,” Gorrondona said.
She told those gathered for the service, “I want to sincerely thank you for being here today. Your presence is more than attendance. For me, it’s a strong act of compassion. It reminds us that no one should be invisible in our community, and none of us should go without notice.”
Daniel P. Lewis, administrator of the cemetery, explained that information is kept on each person buried through No One Buried Alone in case a family member comes forward. With proper identification, and if they desire, the relative can receive the cremains for burial elsewhere, he said.
Father Ghanoum, an Egypt-born Melkite Catholic priest with a doctorate in psychology, recently retired as director of spiritual and palliative care at the hospital, but is still pastor of St. Nicholas Melkite Greek Parish in Delray Beach and became priest assistant at St. Jude Parish in Tequesta in 2025. He plans to continue in those roles as long as possible.
At the compassion service, Father Ghanoum said he was pleased to see people from his two parishes and St. Patrick in Palm Beach Gardens, along with many others who support the ministry financially and through prayer.
He reflected on the vertical and horizontal beams of the crucifix and what they can teach the faithful.
“When you look at the cross, it’s not only the vertical. It’s the horizontal goodness. And if we practice horizontal goodness, then you will look around and you will be at peace and bring peace. The world is in need of all of us,” he said.
The service included readings from the Book of Wisdom, Paul’s Letter to the Romans, and the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 25. At the conclusion of the service, Father Ghanoum led a procession to the crypt, carrying the cremains of a baby named Rosemary to her final resting place.
For more information about supporting the cemetery and the No One Buried Alone ministry, visit https://ourqueen.org/no-one-buried-alone/.
