Help Dionne’s son, Sule, After Fire and the Loss of Uncle Al

On May 15, 2025, a devastating fire tore through the Jersey City home where my 32-year-old son lived with his great-uncle, Albert Von Chorba. Uncle Al lived in that house for 46 years. My son wasn’t home at the time, but Uncle Al was rescued and taken to a hospital in Livingston, NJ, where he fought bravely for several days. Sadly, on May 18, 2025, Uncle Al passed away at the age of 97.

Just a week before, on May 8, we had celebrated his birthday in the neighborhood at his favorite local tavern—something that had become an annual tradition. He was surrounded by love and community, laughing, toasting, and enjoying a life well-lived.

This is an unimaginable loss.

Uncle Al was more than family—he was a central figure in our lives and someone my son cared for with deep love and dedication for over a decade. Since his early 20s, my son has been his primary caregiver, helping preserve Uncle Al’s quality of life and independence in their family home.

The fire not only took the physical home—it disrupted the entire foundation of my son’s life.

His artwork, bikes, clothing, and countless irreplaceable memories were damaged or lost.

The house is currently uninhabitable.

The family cat, Yin, is still missing.

And now, we are grieving the loss of someone who meant the world to us.

While we await insurance assessments and explore next steps, we are asking for interim support to help navigate this incredibly difficult moment. Funds will go toward:

This is a lot for one person to carry alone, and my son has carried so much.

If you're able to give, share, or simply send your prayers—we are deeply grateful.

We will keep this page updated as more information becomes available.

With love and gratitude,

dionne, Sule and family