CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Nearly 300 people buried by Cook County government were remembered Wednesday during a special service.
The 34th annual Interfaith Memorial Observance paid tribute to 290 men and women who died in the past year as indigents.
The names were read.
One of those attending the service: Kathy Wurster, who used to work with the Lakeview shelter for men.
"One of our clients at Lakeview shelter told me once that people want to know names of people's dogs, but they don't want to know names of homeless people that they meet,” Wurster said.
"And it struck me as something that I will always remember -- that just because someone's homeless doesn't mean they're not a human being that deserves respect."
The service was held at the Chicago Temple.