UPDATE FOR CELEBRATION OF LIFE:

Celebration of life Sunday Dec 14 @ 1:00, Sports Scene, Route 31, Washington, NJ.

Hello, my name is Karie Friedman, I am starting a fundraiser for my dear friend and work wife, Cindy Korczukowski and her beautiful children to cover funeral expenses for the sudden loss of her husband and their father, Frank. No one can prepare for mental illness and the control it takes over someone you love. I am asking our community to consider donating. Sarah, their daughter, has always been an advocate for mental health awareness and has sent her heartfelt words:

“Mental illness does not discriminate.

It does not pause for

The color of your skin,

The money you’ve earned,

Or the years you’ve survived.

It does not care who you are

Or what you’ve already fought through.

Mental illness does not discriminate.

It does not soften because

You finally landed the job you prayed for,

You’ve already endured more pain than anyone knows,

Or you have people at home who love you.

It does not negotiate.

It does not bargain.

Mental illness does not discriminate.

But it will take.

It will take the light from your mornings

And the peace from your nights.

It will twist the parts of you

That once felt easy,

Steal the joy you didn’t realize you were still holding,

And leave you questioning everything you’ve built.

Mental illness does not discriminate.

But it can hollow you out.

It can pull you away from the people you love

Even when you don’t want to go.

It can turn your own thoughts against you,

Until you can’t recognize yourself in the mirror

Or remember the feeling of wanting to stay alive.

Mental illness does not discriminate.

And my dad was no exception.

A father

A husband

A son

A brother

A friend

He was all of those things—

And mental illness still reached him.

It did not care who he was

Or how deeply he was loved.

Mental illness does not discriminate.

The people around you—

A coworker you joke with,

The teacher who always seems strong,

The partner you trust with your heart,

The friend who makes everyone laugh,

You—

Any one of us can be pulled under.

Any one of us can break quietly.

Every person carries a story that you will never fully see.

Mental illness does not discriminate.

But neither do I.

And if you ever reach a place

Where you feel like absolutely no one is there for you,

Please hear this—

I am.

-Sarah Korczukowski”

Please share, and consider helping our dear friends at this difficult time.

UPDATE FROM FAMILY:

From Cindy, Jacob, Sarah and John.

Thank you all, truly, for the overwhelming love and support you’ve shown our family. In one of the hardest moments of our lives, your kindness has reminded us that we are not walking through this alone. We feel blessed, humbled, and held by the incredible village that has shown up for us.

We will be celebrating my dad’s life  at the Sports Scene on Route 31 in Washington at a time and date to be determined. It would mean so much to have those who loved him—or who love us—join us as we honor his memory, share stories, and hold onto the joy he brought into the world.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for every donation, message, meal, hug, and prayer. Your support has been a lifeline for us, and we are eternally grateful. For anyone who feels moved to give further, we ask that additional donations be directed to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention at afsp.org, in hopes of helping other families before they ever have to feel this kind of pain.