N.J. communities mourn those lost to COVID-19 with flowers and memories Updated Mar 02, 2021; Posted Mar 02, 2021 On March 1, mourners gathered at five locations across New Jersey to memorialize those lost to COVID-19. Pictured are Maria Vazquez, whose husband Israel Tolentino died from the coronavirus, and Cesar Perez, Tolentino's mentor.Courtesy of Amanda Elisca Facebook Share Nearly a year after New Jersey’s first reported case of the coronavirus, Garden State residents gathered at locations across the state to take part in a national day of mourning to remember the loved ones lost to COVID-19. On Monday, residents who lost friends and family to COVID-19 gathered in Passaic City, Roselle and Union to lay flowers arranged as hearts and to remember those who succumbed to the virus, including the first firefighter in the state to die from the coronavirus and a Passaic EMT.