NH widow needs help with husbands funeral and burial costs

Visiting our sister Lera at the nursing home. Front L to R: Vickie (was terminally ill with cancer), Lera, me (Tammy). Back L to R: Tim, Wendy, Stevie (just passed away).

Stevie having fun with his sisters Lera and Wendy who knows how many years ago.

Stevie leading the way in a pillow case race when we were all much much younger.

Far right is our sister Lera who had early onset alzheimers. We (me, Stevie, his wife Sandy and Wendy) are all walking with Lera to end alzheimers.

Stevie and our Mom. They were so much alike. His nickname was "Mommy Junior."

Stevie holding his son Jason when he was just a baby.

Stevie and his daughter Jennifer when she was just a baby.

Stevie and Sandy's shotgun wedding. You cannot see it but Sandy's mother has the shotgun pointed at Stevie. That's why his hands are up in the air.

Stevie and his wife Sandra opening Christmas presents many years ago.

From left to right: Sister Vickie passed from pancreatic cancer 7/7/2015, Brother Stevie who just passed away 6/25/2024, Sister Lera passed away 7/28/2014.

My sister-in-law, Sandra Ward, received a letter from her life insurance agency dated 6/17/2024, stating that the life insurance she and her husband (my brother, Stevie) paid for 10 years had expired on 6/15/24. It was not due to lack of payment. It was a 10-year term policy they got on 6/15/2014 and ended on 6/15/2024. As unbelievable as it sounds, my brother passed away from cancer 10 days after the life insurance expired.

Sandy did not manage the paperwork, so she had no idea about this until she had that letter in her hands reading it on 6/17/24. Before the cancer, my brother had several debilitating strokes over the past few years. Stevie was in and out of hospitals and rehab centers over the past few years because of them. He broke his hip and had a plate and screws put in after his last fall.

Sandy had worked off and on over the years while this was all happening, trying to pay the bills. She had to stop working altogether to care for Stevie once he broke his hip and was diagnosed with cancer. She is in her 70's, retired with her own health issues, and will have to return to her part-time job at a nearby grocery store to get by. Without the life insurance that they had counted on, and with only her income, there is a balance left for the funeral and burial costs that she nor the family can afford.

There is one family member who has spent a lot of his own money towards everything, but it was not nearly enough and he really needs it back. It was money he had saved for his own wife who has stage 4 COPD. Some of us in the family who are able will do what we can to help Sandy get situated as she tries to negotiate her way through this new chapter in her life. That is not counted towards the goal for this Go Fund Me page.

We do appreciate any and all help that people can provide. If you are able to give financially, every penny we get will go directly towards the costs mentioned. If you're unable to give financially, you can still help by sharing the link with this story with as many people as you know. Every dollar donated helps and every time the story is shared also helps bring us closer to our goal.

Funeral and Burial Services: $9,000

Headstone: $1,000

Cost for Reception: $2,000

Reimburse Family Member: $3,000