Funeral & Family Expenses for Brian Cote

On the night of September 2nd, 2023 Brian left his home to do 3 things. Go to Walmart, swing by a friends house, and pick up his eldest daughter and go home. Plans changed last minute, and instead of picking his daughter up they just decided to meet for a quick chat and a hug and agreed tomorrow would be a better time for her to go with her dad as it was already after 10pm. On his way home, less than 3 minutes from his house, there were two cars stationary in the road on 15a in DeLand. One car was broken down, and behind that car was another car stopped with the intentions of assisting the first. Without their lights on Brian collided head on with the two vehicles. Paramedics had to use jaws of life to quickly extricate him where he was observed to have suffered severe life threatening injuries that he would eventually succumb to upon arrival at the hospital despite the paramedics exhaustive attempts to revive him.

Brian was only 39 years old and he leaves behind 7 beautiful children whom he loved with his whole heart. The oldest being 19 and the youngest not even 4months old. We all as family of Brian are beyond devastated. There simply aren’t words for such a tragedy. And our greatest burden now is the monetary responsibility to honor his life and legacy with a proper funeral service so that his children and many many loved ones are able to come say goodbye and pay their respects. The youngest few of his children will never be fortunate enough to experience their fathers love for them first hand, but only through the stories we tell them and the reminders we give them about how much he cared for them and wanted more than anything to be apart of their lives and watch them grow. As a parent my heart breaks knowing that piece will always be missing where there fathers presence should be. But if we could at least offer them a physical place or memento for them to go to for comfort in the many years to come, it would be a small bit of softness amidst an impossibly difficult hardship. Brian also had many close friends and family who are all at s loss for words and ate up with sadness from his sudden death. Unfortunately the family simply can’t afford the costs associated with these end of life niceties. It’s an enormous amount of guilt and sadness that accompanies this inability to honor a man, a father, a husband who deserves to be honored, and for all who cared for him to have a time, place snd space to express their love and say final goodbyes.

Brian was nothing if not generous and kind. If you needed it, and he had it, he’d offer it. And if he didn’t have it, he’d go and make or build it himself. He was clever and cunning and endlessly handy and creative. A very hard worker who enjoyed to wake up and break a sweat getting things done. He was resourceful and quick thinking, tough while secretly very tender, funny and charming. He was impressively good with his hands and took pride in his craftsmanship. He loved who and what he loved ferociously. And without condition. Please help us be able to honor him the way he deserves and give his family the goodbye they deserve and the time and ability to grieve such a tragic and overwhelming loss. Absolutely any donation helps, and if you’re unable to donate please just pass this along so that others may be able to. The entire family will be incredibly grateful to any and all contributions and shares of this page. And will keep everyone informed and up to date with when and where services and/or memorials will be held.