Cecelia's Burial Fund

This is the story of a loved friend and neighbor, Charmaine, and her mother, Cecelia. Cecelia just died after a brief battle with cancer.

Cecelia Bryce, "Cece" to some, "Cissy" to others, spent her entire life in service to other families. She cared for and helped rear countless children over four decades as a nanny and babysitter. Though her occupation was not lucrative in terms of financial rewards and benefits, she helped families succeed on a daily basis. Imagine having the piece of mind that comes from having a caregiver you can trust with your children, knowing they are well cared for and safe. Cecilia brought joy to their lives. She always had a smile and a fun sense of humor. The giving and receiving of that kind of loving care is a gift that defies calculation. In recent years Cecelia came to live with her only daughter, Charmaine Wulff, in Frederick, MD.

Charmaine followed her mother's example in a certain manner because she pursued one of the most caring and selfless careers imaginable, that of nursing. After having served in the institutional hospital setting, Charmaine was called to nurse to a home-bound population. Her patients are among the most profoundly impaired and medically fragile, people who are seldom seen outside the home.

These women, Cecelia and Charmaine, made a difference in the lives of others (and still do). Their nature demonstrates an undeniable ethic of giving.

Cecelia was diagnosed with a form of fast-moving renal cancer, about four months ago, that had already spread throughout her body. She died Monday night, September 5, in the hospital while waiting for discharge to a long-term care dialysis facility.

During these final weeks Charmaine discovered that Cecelia had no life insurance whatsoever. She is now working to secure a personal loan to cover modest funeral and burial expenses. Charmaine is a single mom and great provider for her three children and her mother to the end. She is a warrior (working 2-3 jobs at times) in terms of making sure her family has all of the important needs met. It means that, from paycheck to paycheck, things work. But it does not mean she has a "rainy day" fund for something like her mom's unexpected death.

We did not seek Charmaine's permission to try to help. However, as friends of this family, we knew that help was needed. The family includes a freshmen and junior in high school, and a sophomore in college. They will definitely be struggling in the coming months to make ends meet.

This is an opportunity for friends of the family (and friends of the friends) to help a dedicated daughter bury her mother. Cecelia had no material resources to speak of, and her death left funeral expenses that Charmaine is unable to pay. We thought we would bring this family's story to your attention, because the way we look at it, five or ten or fifteen dollars here or there can add up and make a meaningful difference, and it is a small way to support in death a woman who in life gave loving care to scores of children and their families.

The goal we set in this fund will support a modest funeral and burial. Cecelia did not want to be cremated, so Charmaine is honoring that wish.

Thank you.