Rose's Funeral Fund
Donation protected
Hello there. I will try not to take up a massive amount of time here but obviously there is so much to say and so little time to do so. This fundraiser was started out of a desperate need for help and a sincere plea to all to extend your hearts in a very trying time. Those who know me know I hate asking for help but there is little option in allowing pride to supersede genuine cause.
My grandmother Rose born 5/30/17 was 97 y/o and lived an incredible life. Her time came somewhat unexpectedly when God decided to bring her home on 8/16/14.
Rose was what a real woman is made of… Strength, compassion, love, hard work, resilience, selflessness and so much more I could carry on for days. She was the original Rosie the Riveter and would regale some of the most amazing stories of her life from her younger years that would astonish most with utter fascination. From becoming orphaned at a very young age, working in the hospital with the nuns caring for the sick and wounded soldiers while attending school and church, to working on the war planes and sending them off the field into battle. She was a worker, homemaker, a wife, a mother adopting a helpless child and giving her a life and later becoming a mother and confidant to me; her granddaughter. She worked countless other jobs and did whatever she had to in order to make it through life and did it all with such grace and an air of fearlessness. They just don’t make women like that nowadays, let alone people in general and the amount of respect and admiration I have for her is boundless.
A number of years ago we found out that the life insurance policy Rose had been paying into for so many years was in turn being collected on by a fraudulent source. She lost everything and with her elder age couldn’t obtain another policy to ensure her final arrangements be met the way she deserved and desired for her entire life. She wanted to be buried next to her husband who passed away on 7/7/77 in NY where she only purchased a plot and nothing more. She’s been living in CA here with me in my home and although it’s been a struggle over the years to take care of my family I’ve done the best I could do to ensure her happiness and that she would have nothing but love, peace and joy in her final years on this planet which I felt was the least she deserved being the woman she was. Against everyone who wanted the easy way out I put my life/careers on hold to make sure she remained taken care of in her home and in turn she took her final breaths in my arms, in her bedroom, with those who loved and cared about her the most. I succeeded but yet my work is not done. It’s a very hard time to lose someone you are so close to and a very lonely time when support is so few and far between. Rose was my grandmother, mother, angel, best friend, soulmate, daughter and everything else in between. We were like frick & frack and as thick as thieves. To grieve this loss is painful enough but then of course there is little time for bereavement when reality & life get in the way. On top of everything else reality starts to set in that you are going to be losing a lot more than just your loved one. Loss of home, certain income, more money going out then what’s coming in and it’s enough to push anyone over the edge, believe me. I’m also dreading a new chapter in my life of being alone and in a way having to start a new life, pick up and move yet again after just moving us into a new home barely a few months back but what can I do except face what is. Frankly though I really have no time to think about myself and my needs because her final needs have not been met yet.
In order to respect her wishes it’s going to cost thousands of dollars to transport her back home to NY in order to bury her, money that I just don’t have. She is being temporarily housed at a local mortuary here in San Diego but we have little time left to finalize arrangements and lay her to rest. At this time I’m doing whatever I can in my power to ensure this happens cause I don’t know what else we can do and the thought of defying her wishes does not sit well with me. Not only are we seeking the monetary funds to make this all happen but I will also be looking in addition for help by means of a buddy pass to fly myself home to NY to be there with her and ensure everything is said and done.
On that note…
I plea to you all to find it in your hearts to make a donation as soon as possible. Big or small every bit helps and hopefully it will be enough to finalize arrangements, allow her to rest and start the process of carrying on for the rest of us.
You can find all info with the link provided to make a donation and if you have any questions please msg me and I’ll get back to you just as soon as I’m able. If you know of anyone else who you think might like to assist in this cause please feel free to forward them the link as well.
Thank you all in advance for your gifts and support through this time; they are appreciated more than could ever be expressed. Wishing all the best to you and your families, with love. ~R.L.
My grandmother Rose born 5/30/17 was 97 y/o and lived an incredible life. Her time came somewhat unexpectedly when God decided to bring her home on 8/16/14.
Rose was what a real woman is made of… Strength, compassion, love, hard work, resilience, selflessness and so much more I could carry on for days. She was the original Rosie the Riveter and would regale some of the most amazing stories of her life from her younger years that would astonish most with utter fascination. From becoming orphaned at a very young age, working in the hospital with the nuns caring for the sick and wounded soldiers while attending school and church, to working on the war planes and sending them off the field into battle. She was a worker, homemaker, a wife, a mother adopting a helpless child and giving her a life and later becoming a mother and confidant to me; her granddaughter. She worked countless other jobs and did whatever she had to in order to make it through life and did it all with such grace and an air of fearlessness. They just don’t make women like that nowadays, let alone people in general and the amount of respect and admiration I have for her is boundless.
A number of years ago we found out that the life insurance policy Rose had been paying into for so many years was in turn being collected on by a fraudulent source. She lost everything and with her elder age couldn’t obtain another policy to ensure her final arrangements be met the way she deserved and desired for her entire life. She wanted to be buried next to her husband who passed away on 7/7/77 in NY where she only purchased a plot and nothing more. She’s been living in CA here with me in my home and although it’s been a struggle over the years to take care of my family I’ve done the best I could do to ensure her happiness and that she would have nothing but love, peace and joy in her final years on this planet which I felt was the least she deserved being the woman she was. Against everyone who wanted the easy way out I put my life/careers on hold to make sure she remained taken care of in her home and in turn she took her final breaths in my arms, in her bedroom, with those who loved and cared about her the most. I succeeded but yet my work is not done. It’s a very hard time to lose someone you are so close to and a very lonely time when support is so few and far between. Rose was my grandmother, mother, angel, best friend, soulmate, daughter and everything else in between. We were like frick & frack and as thick as thieves. To grieve this loss is painful enough but then of course there is little time for bereavement when reality & life get in the way. On top of everything else reality starts to set in that you are going to be losing a lot more than just your loved one. Loss of home, certain income, more money going out then what’s coming in and it’s enough to push anyone over the edge, believe me. I’m also dreading a new chapter in my life of being alone and in a way having to start a new life, pick up and move yet again after just moving us into a new home barely a few months back but what can I do except face what is. Frankly though I really have no time to think about myself and my needs because her final needs have not been met yet.
In order to respect her wishes it’s going to cost thousands of dollars to transport her back home to NY in order to bury her, money that I just don’t have. She is being temporarily housed at a local mortuary here in San Diego but we have little time left to finalize arrangements and lay her to rest. At this time I’m doing whatever I can in my power to ensure this happens cause I don’t know what else we can do and the thought of defying her wishes does not sit well with me. Not only are we seeking the monetary funds to make this all happen but I will also be looking in addition for help by means of a buddy pass to fly myself home to NY to be there with her and ensure everything is said and done.
On that note…
I plea to you all to find it in your hearts to make a donation as soon as possible. Big or small every bit helps and hopefully it will be enough to finalize arrangements, allow her to rest and start the process of carrying on for the rest of us.
You can find all info with the link provided to make a donation and if you have any questions please msg me and I’ll get back to you just as soon as I’m able. If you know of anyone else who you think might like to assist in this cause please feel free to forward them the link as well.
Thank you all in advance for your gifts and support through this time; they are appreciated more than could ever be expressed. Wishing all the best to you and your families, with love. ~R.L.
Organizer
Renee Lopez
Organizer
San Diego, CA
