On July 21st, 2025, my mom, Diane Benedict, passed away surrounded by family at St. Mary’s Hospital in Apple Valley, CA, after spending 12 days on a ventilator. She fought so hard for so long, but in the end, her body just wasn’t strong enough. Her passing was sudden, shocking, and deeply painful. I flew in from Florida the day she was admitted to the ICU, and ever since, my siblings—Stephen and Jennifer—and I have been working nonstop to navigate the days that followed.

Diane’s death came in the middle of a major life transition. She and our dad, Stephen, were in the process of moving from their longtime home in Apple Valley to Solstice Senior Living Apartments, hoping to downsize and prepare for the future. They spent only two nights in their new apartment before my Mom was taken by ambulance and admitted to St. Mary’s where she fought bravely, but ultimately passed away. Now, in addition to grieving and handling all the usual arrangements, we’re also managing their finances, untangling legal documents, digging through boxes, and arranging the care our dad now needs as Stephen is living with both Parkinson’s and dementia.

Diane was not only the heart of our family—she was also our dad’s primary caregiver. With her passing, my siblings and I have been left to piece together so many aspects of their life: medical decisions, financial plans, banking information, and the process of preparing to sell their home. It’s overwhelming, but our priority is making sure Dad continues to receive the care and support he needs. We’re currently transferring him from their original two-bedroom apartment to a one-bedroom unit and placing the rest of their belongings temporarily in storage. He’ll also need outside care going forward—something we’re actively researching while he stays safe and loved at his son’s house. As you can imagine, this has been incredibly hard on him. He's confused, grieving, and in a place of great loss after losing his wife of 34 years.

In the midst of all this, so many people have reached out asking how they can help or where to send condolences. We've created this GoFundMe as a way for those who wish to support us during this difficult transition. Your contributions will help us cover unexpected expenses, assist with moving and storage costs, support Stephen’s care, and allow us to honor Diane’s legacy in the way she deserves with a memorial service in the near future when our family is somewhat settled again. These funds will also help us navigate this confusing transition period as we work toward the eventual sale of their home, which is still in progress and comes with its own set of challenges.

Please give what you can—we are grateful for any support. And if you’d prefer to honor her memory in another way, we encourage you to donate to a local animal rescue in Diane’s name. She loved dachshunds and believed deeply in the importance of animal adoption.

Thank you for helping us through this time, and for honoring the beautiful life of our mom, Diane.