Gary’s Gravestone

My name is Christina Florence. We lost our beloved Gary Beagle last September very unexpectedly. He became ill on a Saturday night/Sunday morning. Got progressively worse and went to the hospital on Tuesday morning. He called me just before he went to the ER and unfortunately he didn’t make a lot of sense because he was so sick with an infection. That would sadly be the last time I would ever talk to him. He passed away on Thursday. He died from a staph infection that progressed into septicemia and the infection destroyed his heart. It is/was such a sad, unfortunate event. He had such a huge heart and loved his friends and family so very much. His friends considered him our family and loved him dearly.

 

Due to his sudden, unexpected death, his life insurance and retirement accounts were not able to be used to pay for his funeral expenses due to beneficiary issues. He passed on September 9th 2021 and was not buried until September 24th, 2021 because of those same issues. During that two weeks his mother also passed. They had a combined funeral. His and his mothers expenses were to be paid from an account Gary had set up to care for his mother’s long term care. However, there continues to be issues with getting funeral expenses paid. His family is responsible for that account and making sure funeral expenses are paid. In addition to those issues, when the arrangements were made in September the family opted not to have a gravestone order for Gary. His mother already had a gravestone as Gary’s father had passed many years prior. So, now almost six months later, I am still being told there continues to be issues with getting the funds from that account. So, our sweet, beloved Gary still does not have a gravestone.

 

Gary was one of my closest friends. We worked together, our offices were right next to each other, I saw him every day and he would come to our house at least 2-3 times a week to visit. He loved our dog, Luna, and he loved us like we were his family and we thought of him as such. He and I were/are college teachers and he loved his job and his students. He absence is felt at school daily by his students and his work family.

 

It truly breaks my heart to go to his grave site and there is no headstone to place flowers or mementos. We adored Gary and want him to have the gravestone he deserves. I have waited as long as I can and have been in contact with his family about these issues. However, I cannot in good conscience, let him go any longer without a gravestone. He would be doing the same for me at this point and honestly, probably sooner. But, I’ve tried to be understanding and patient but I just feel it’s been long enough for him to be without a headstone.

 

I am asking for assistance to help pay for him to have a gravestone placed so that we may visit him and places flowers for him because he would have so appreciated that. I have spoken to the funeral home (who also owns the grave site where he is buried), and have been told the basic headstone is $1000. I would love to get him something a little nicer than the basic headstone, because he was so much more to many of us and I would like for him to have the best we can afford. I would be forever grateful for any assistance. I know Gary would be thankful as well, even tho I know he wouldn’t want anyone to spend anything on him. But, he deserves the best as he was always thinking of others first. Please consider donating. Sending love to all.

 

And to my sweet Gary, rest easy, I will do my best for you.

 

With heartfelt thanks,

 

Christina.