Special Report

Shutdown: The Coronavirus

Queens residents mourn at Covid vigil

Theresa, who declined to give her last name, lays flowers at the portrait of her sister- in-law, Theresa La Trace. Photo by Annie Burky

Theresa La Trace from Howard Beach, Queens loved all things yellow, especially sunflowers and lemons. So when her sister in law, also named Theresa, planned to attend the Queens Covid Remembrance Day on May 1, she knew which flowers to bring.

Theresa laid the small bouquet sunflowers in front of a portrait of La Trace on a bench at the Forest Park bandshell alongside photos of almost 200 victims of Covid-19. The bereaved filled the remaining benches to begin a day that would draw an estimated 500 participants and be broadcasted by Queens Public Television. An approximate 2,000 viewers watched the event on YouTube, Facebook and QPTV.

“Things like this matter, how we live our lives after they’re gone matters,” said Theresa, who declined to give her last name.

As a day of ceremonies began there were all the tell-tale signs of a funeral—scattered sobs and consoling speeches. A collection of politicians, faith leaders, poets, and singers took the stage to begin the 1 p.m. multi-lingual, interfaith ceremony.

The ceremony concluded with an invitation for the bereaved to find their loved ones among the 16 rows  filled with the portraits of Queens residents who lost their lives in the epicenter of the epicenter. All were drawn in front of a yellow heart, the color representing Covid. A curtain of yellow hearts, the backdrop of the bandshell, listed names of 700 victims from all over the world.

EmmLynn Taylor sits with the portrait of her late husband Jules Taylor Jr.. Photo by Annie Burky

EmmLynn Taylor brought a vase filled with flowers and a laminated two-page obituary to place alongside the portrait of her husband, Jules Taylor Jr.  “Monday will be the one-year anniversary,” Taylor said. “They said the firsts are the worst. I think today will be a bridge to year two.”

EmyLou Rodriguez had this in mind when planning the event. She lost both her parents within two weeks of each other. Antonio B. Solomon and Estelita Solomon immigrated from the Philippines separately and fell in love in New York. “Tony” was a U.S. Navy Veteran and was often overseas. “Estie” was a retired nurse. At the time of contracting Covid they lived in Queens Village. Estie was 72-years-old, Tony was 71.  Both passed with the company of nurses. Their funerals were truncated, family members unable to hug.

Rodriguez, a 43-year-old senior grants specialist for NYU Langone Health, couldn’t speak about their deaths but found comfort in Facebook groups where quarantined mourners created a Covid-loss community. Within one of these chats, the idea for a vigil was born, volunteers were recruited and donations were solicited.

“When I saw other people experiencing the same thing I think that’s what gave me the strength to share my parents’ story,” said Rodriguez, a co-chair of the Queens Covid Remembrance Day committee. “When I realized how much it helped me to tell their story I wanted to give others the opportunity to do the same.”

Catherine Solomon, sister to Co-Chair EmyLou Rodriguez, speaks about their late parents Antonio B. Solomon and Estelita Solomon during the Floral Hearts Ceremony. Photo by Annie Burky

For the 4 p.m. floral hearts ceremony families once again took their seats. In a procession down the center aisle, artist Kristina Libby, along with three speakers who lost family to Covid, carried flowers and photos of the deceased Under the bandshell, Libby placed a floral art piece including a heart-shaped funeral wreath.

“What this is about is making space so that everyone who has lost someone or something has a space to tell their story,” Libby said.

When day gave way to night at 7 p.m., candles were distributed, performers sang uplifting ballads and Rodriguez read a letter her father wrote to her mother sometime during their 43 years of marriage.

“ ‘Well, honey, my love, I’ll be waiting for your much awaited response. Take care of yourself and the kids and your mom. My warm embrace and hot kisses,’ ” Rodriguez said. “I extend the same wishes to you all. While they wait our return I would like you to heed their message—take good care of yourself, your kids, your parents.”

 

 

Author


Tags


Other Stories in Special Report: Shutdown: The Coronavirus

Life returns to the East Village

Quincy Walter May 5, 2021

Reopening for Ramadan

Hassan Abbas May 4, 2021

And the band played on

Xavier Bartaburu May 2, 2021

Floating for Free: COVID and the Staten Island Ferry

Trish Rooney May 2, 2021

COVID-19 has left many Black and Hispanic landlords in serious debt

Norah Hogan April 24, 2021

Village East movie theater reopens to the public

Inga Parkel April 13, 2021

Chinese adoptions halted by COVID

Inga Parkel March 24, 2021

Remote is the new workplace normal

Courtney Guarino March 24, 2021

One year of COVID-19 in New York City

Michelle Diaz March 16, 2021

COVID long haulers deal with lingering symptoms and doubt

Kaity Assaf March 5, 2021

Pandemic Weddings

Chuyan Jiang March 2, 2021

Pandemic fatigue 101

Chuyan Jiang February 28, 2021

Yankee Stadium becomes COVID-19 vaccine site for Bronx residents only

Michelle Diaz February 24, 2021

The queer community rallies behind their sacred spaces closed because of COVID-19

Inga Parkel February 23, 2021

Street vendors struggle as New Yorkers and tourists stay home

Norah Hogan February 13, 2021

Keeping the faith in COVID-19

Courtney Guarino February 3, 2021

Little Italy’s restaurants need indoor dining to survive pandemic

Michelle Diaz February 2, 2021

Stray pets find homes and love during pandemic

Inga Parkel February 1, 2021

No Actors, But the Show Goes On

James Pothen December 5, 2020

New York City, a place of refuge 

Edith Rousselot December 4, 2020

Commuting in a pandemic world

Michelle Diaz December 3, 2020

Battling food insecurities during a pandemic

Courtney Guarino December 3, 2020

Adaptation

Justin McGown December 3, 2020

Honk!: Cars earn a special spot in 2020

Luana Harumi December 3, 2020

Working out looks very different during a pandemic

Chuyan Jiang December 2, 2020

One kitchen’s transformation in the age of isolation

Isabel Beer December 2, 2020

Nursing homes are filled with sadness and loss during pandemic shut down

Inga Parkel December 1, 2020

The show goes on

Norah Hogan December 1, 2020

Loyal members help keep independent cinemas afloat

Courtney Guarino December 1, 2020

Musicians deal with the reality of no live shows as covid takes center stage

Paola Michelle Ortiz December 1, 2020

 Black Friday’s Aftermath

Sughnen Yongo November 30, 2020

The Spirit of Little Haiti

Savannah Daniels October 14, 2020

Small business owners hope for future relief

Courtney Guarino October 2, 2020

Brooklyn Book Festival held virtually

Chuyan Jiang September 28, 2020

NYC Restaurant owners worry about maintaining business during winter 

Isabel Beer September 27, 2020

The pandemic is causing mental health struggles for many Latinos

Paola Michelle Ortiz September 24, 2020

Politically divided family can agree on one thing, rallies are bad during a pandemic

Michelle Diaz September 23, 2020

New Yorkers are vulnerable to mental issues due to pandemic

Sughnen Yongo September 23, 2020

Healthcare professionals struggle with Trump’s decisions during pandemic

Tori Luecking September 23, 2020

Some Americans Say “Not So Fast” on Operation Warp Speed

James Pothen September 23, 2020

Trump voters unfazed by morality of Trump’s Covid response

Norah Hogan September 22, 2020

Trump rallies continue, despite the rising Covid-19 death toll

Isabel Beer September 22, 2020

Latinos weigh in on President Trump’s management of the pandemic

Paola Michelle Ortiz September 21, 2020

Fast track vaccine causes fear

Kaity Assaf September 21, 2020

It’s business as usual at McSorley’s Old Ale House

Tori Luecking September 20, 2020

Trump defiance to hold indoor rallies amidst COVID-19 sparks polarized responses 

Courtney Guarino September 20, 2020

NYC Cafes and restaurants try and survive the pandemic

Isabel Beer September 19, 2020

A typical afternoon at Shade Bar NYC

Kaity Assaf September 19, 2020

West Village staple, Caffe Reggio, remains open for outdoor dining in the wake of coronavirus restrictions 

Norah Hogan September 19, 2020

Fort Greene’s Dino adds outdoor dining to keep business flowing

Courtney Guarino September 19, 2020