Help Sue Rebuild After Losing Everything in a Devastating Fire

In the early hours of the morning on Tuesday, December 9th around 2:30am, a fire started in the apartment below my aunt Sue’s home at Taunton Gardens in Taunton, MA. Within minutes, the flames spread and completely consumed her apartment.

Sue (Susan Piwowarski), who is 67 and lives on disability, escaped with nothing but the clothes on her back. Everything else — all of her furniture, clothing, medications, identification, phone, car key, important documents, and every sentimental item she owned — was lost. Even the Christmas gifts she had just bought for her family were destroyed.

Although she did have renter’s insurance, it will likely take time to determine what may or may not be covered, and she needs help now with the basics to simply function day-to-day.

Sue is currently staying with her daughter Kaitlin, but rebuilding her life from scratch on a fixed disability income is an overwhelming challenge. She needs essentials such as clothing, medications, personal care items, and anything required to replace what was lost.

Anyone who knows Sue knows the beautiful, caring kind of person she is. She has always been the first to show up for others — offering her time, lending an ear, helping a friend in need, cooking for people, and staying active in her church community. She lights up around her family — her daughter, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, her two brothers, sister, nieces, and nephews. She has always given what she could, even when she had little.

Now, she’s the one who needs help. Emma Thompson, Sue’s granddaughter, and I (Heather McNally) both thought we could help - and so here we are trying to give back to someone who we love and who has given so much to us.

This GoFundMe is set up so that all funds will go directly to me, and I will make sure every dollar goes toward helping Sue replace her essentials, secure new housing, and start rebuilding what was taken from her overnight.

Our family is deeply grateful for any support — whether it’s a donation, a share, or a kind message. Thank you for helping Sue begin this long and difficult road to recovery. Your kindness truly makes a difference.