Brooklyn neighborhood comes together to bury a stranger

request, posted on an online neighborhood forum by a Brooklyn funeral director, was simple but heartfelt. A 91-year-old woman h died from coronavirus. Her family was scattered in or states. Would anyone like to contribute items for her funeral, like flowers?

This wasn’t a funeral for anyone who lived in neighborhood, Brooklyn’s Prospect Leffert Gardens section, or for anyone that neighbors knew. It was for a complete stranger who died at a Manhattan assisted living facility.

Yet within minutes, people began to respond. One resident, Rebecca Benghiat, embroidered word “Mom” onto a fabric nameplate that went onto eco-friendly felt casket.

“I will contribute lilacs -- our lilac bush is bursting with blooms!” ar resident wrote.

“I should have some white daffodils opened by n,” wrote ar.

Those modest gifts helped give a human touch to a socially distant funeral for Winifred Pardo, who was buried Wednesday at Woodlawn Cemetery in Bronx.

Pardo’s family abided by New York’s rules barring garings of any size and watched ceremony via an online chat, with video streamed by one of funeral director’s assistants.

One of Pardo’s daughters, Beth Pardo watched from Pennsylvania. She said she was touched by support from strangers.

“It’s such a painful time for so many people, and you kw death is all around so many of us, and all of us toger find community and to find connection is helping me get through it,” Pardo said. “I think it has turned what felt very stark and harsh and lonely into this beautiful thing.”

gifts for funeral were solicited by Amy Cunningham, who owns Fitting Tribute Funeral Services in Brooklyn.

She has been arranging burials for COVID-19 victims at a heartbreaking rate and decided to turn to her neighbors for help.

“Funerals used to be mand by neighborhoods and communities and families on ir own, so why don’t I put up mess out, and so many people are at home and maybe wanting to do something helpful,” she said, recalling her decision to put up post.

Cunningham said she requested flowers from neighbors’ gardens because florists -- considered nessential -- are closed.

Benghiat, who offered up embroidery for casket, declined to take an offer of pay for her work.

“We’re incredibly lucky. We have our health and a home we can stay inside,” she said. “This has created opportunities for us to find small ways to connect with each or and support each or over last few weeks.”

Pardo said she was devastated when she got call from assisted living facility that her mor h died.

Her 19-year-old daughter, Zoe Ko, said being able to join with relatives around country for virtual burial “helped change this from what felt like a lonely, stark experience into something very beautiful and much bigger than us.”

“It was about healing and community,” she said.