Funeral Expenses for James Tyropolis

On the morning of March 18th, Ben went to visit his father as he often does. When James did not answer, Ben asked for assistance opening the door and made the gut-wrenching discovery that his father had unexpectedly passed away sometime after he had spoken to him the previous evening. This is a nightmare on every level, and has left the family distraught and scrambling to find the funds to afford a simple funeral.

Ben had been a caregiver to his father for many, many years. Ben prioritized the health and wellbeing of his father above all else, and worked diligently to provide both physical and emotional care to him on a daily basis, making sure that all of his needs were met. He is the kind of son that every parent would want to have. Finding his father deceased had always been Ben's biggest fear, and sadly, it came to fruition. He is completely shattered.

Both Jagger and Ezra are beyond devastated. Grandpa James was fun, funny, always up for an adventure at the beach or wandering around Harkness or Rocky Neck. They cannot wrap their minds around the fact that they saw and spent time with him the afternoon of the 17th, and he was gone the next morning. They are struggling to process how this could have happened, and as parents, we can only offer comfort and remind them of how much Grandpa James loved them.

Funerals are expensive. We all know this. There is no such thing as a "cheap" funeral. We have tried everything to come up with the money needed to give James a dignified service. We have cut all of the corners, eliminated all things unnecessary. We simply cannot afford any of this. After much discussion and swallowing our pride, we are asking for help through this venue. This amount will cover the basic service fees of the funeral home, and a direct cremation. We are hoping to have a public memorial at a later date.

We fully understand that this is a financially difficult time for nearly every person out there, and we greatly appreciate the time you took to read this. If you are able to donate any amount, we would be so grateful. Even just sharing this post would be so helpful. James touched so many lives through his many years working for DMR, and being a lifelong resident of New London county. He had an enormous heart, and loved people. He was a very kind and generous human being, and would be the first one to step up when someone needed help. He was an exceptional artist and gardener, and helped make the world a more beautiful place with his incredible talent and creativity.

Thank you all so much. If you are lucky enough to have your dad around, please give him a huge hug and tell him you love him.