Mandi Howard is sobbing over the coffin of a man she did not know, surrounded by strangers she's never met.

Yet, she knew she needed to be here. Howard lost her sister unexpectedly last year, but didn't get to say goodbye or have a ceremony.

So when she heard about a call-out this week, searching for volunteer pallbearers to help at the burial of an unclaimed body in Oshawa, Ont., she didn't hesitate.

"I do have family out there who are 'unclaimed due to homelessness or addictions,'" she said, shortly after the burial.

"I feel like this was healing for me … because none of us are unclaimed."

About a dozen people showed up for the short service at an Oshawa cemetery Wednesday.

After making small talk in the parking lot, the group was tasked with hoisting the coffin from the hearse. Th

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