A small group gathered under a tree in the Knights Landing Cemetery on a breezy Friday to remember those who died while under the care of the Yolo County Public Guardian/Public Administration this year.
“We get to do this just because the county believes in it,” said Public Guardian and Administrator Cass Sylvia. “In Yolo County, we value each and every person on every level.”
The county memorial service is held to pay respects to the people served over the past year by the Public Guardian. The office manages the estates and affairs of persons who cannot care for themselves due to serious physical illness, mental illness or other disability. Public Administrator services include managing the indigent burial/cremation program and the estates of those who die in Yolo County without a will, or without a relative in the state willing or able to act as administrator.
Mental Health Services Coordinator Joan Beesley shared the story of Tomas Clark, whom she called a nice, simple guy.
She first met him ten years ago because he needed glasses. He had just been fired because he could not read the menus at the restaurant where he worked.
She stressed to the crowd how important the program is because it provides those necessities to people like Clark.
One man spoke of his sister, Amy Medich, who struggled with schizophrenia before she died.
They went to Ohio State together before she found a home in Yolo County and a sanctuary in Pine Tree Gardens.
“She’ll always be in my heart and I love you, Amy,” he said.
“She was able to graduate in four and a half years with her bachelor’s degree,” he said.
District Attorney Jeff Reisig and County Counsel Philip Pogledich, among other county officials and family members, were at the ceremony to pay their respects.
The memorial included a color guard, and the playing of Taps.
Rev. Norman Callaway gave the invocation followed by a prayer before journalist Andrew Ward gave a speech.
“We dread death because it’s a mystery so we shouldn’t mourn those who have found the answers the living are looking for,” Ward told those assembled.
Capay Valley resident and musician Clarence Van Hook closed the memorial service by leading the crowd in singing a hymn.
