A Lifetime of Memories Lost: Rebuilding My Mother's Home

Hello, my name is Curt Toppel, and I am reaching out with a heavy heart on behalf of my 82-year-old mother, Haldis Toppel, who recently lost her home in the devastating fire that swept through Pacific Palisades.

This home was more than just a house. It was purchased in 1960 by my father, Kurt Toppel, a man who took immense pride in providing a loving, stable foundation for our family. My parents first met in this home, and over the decades, it became the heart of our family’s most cherished memories.

Seven years ago, we lost my father, just before the birth of his granddaughter. Though his absence left a void, his memory lived on within that home, and in the small but meaningful treasures we preserved there. Now, all that remains are ashes and charred fragments of what was once a warm and welcoming space.

For my mother, this loss is profoundly painful. The home was her connection to my father, to their life together, and to the community they cherished and dedicated most of their lives to. Even our 18-year-old family dog, Sandy, who has known no other home, is struggling with the changes, shivering with anxiety as she adjusts to unfamiliar surroundings.

While there are discussions of aid, no tangible support has yet materialized. To make matters worse, the insurance payout will not cover the cost to rebuild. For a retired woman in her 80s, the prospect of taking on debt to recreate her sanctuary is daunting, to say the least.

I’m humbly asking for your help to rebuild not just a home, but a place where my mother can continue to feel connected to my father and the life they built together. A place where she can continue giving back to the community she loves from within, and where she can find peace, surrounded by the echoes of cherished memories and the love of our family.

Your generosity will make an immense difference in helping my mother return to the property where her husband’s ashes are laid to rest, ensuring that his dream of keeping our family on this land for generations lives on.

How the funds will be used:

Thank you for taking the time to read our story. Any contribution, big or small, will mean the world to us. If you’re unable to give, sharing our campaign would also help tremendously. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your kindness and support.

***DISCLAIMER***

Following FEMA guidelines, any and all funds raised from this GoFundMe page will NOT be used for any expenses or needs potentially covered by FEMA, RedCross or other relief agency or institution.

Warmly,

Curt Toppel