Help Frankie and Jenny Through This Heartbreaking Time

I’m Gianna, and it brings me great sorrow to say I am raising funds on behalf of a family that is very dear to my heart.

Elizabeth (center) was the single mother of two beautiful children, Jenny and Frankie. Frankie describes his mom as “an angel”, and “the strongest person I’ve ever met”, and anyone that is lucky enough to know her would agree. She was kind, funny, and loved to love others. She was the best mom, and the greatest friend, and her absence will leave a void in every life she touched forever.

She spent the last 30 years dedicated to giving her kids the best possible lives, full of love, patience, joy, and memories… and she spent the past 7 of those years battling lymphatic cancer. On good days and bad, Elizabeth’s quiet and quick witted humor could light up the worried faces of those around her- to this day, stories of Elizabeth warm my heart and send me laughing from my belly. She carried herself with grace, with strength, and with determination to continue to light up the lives of those she loved.

She fought long and hard, tirelessly for seven long, difficult years because of her two children. Jenny is 30 years old, with Autism that requires full-time caretaking. Frankie is 28 years old, lives on his own, works a full-time job, and now has the responsibility of being Jennifer’s legal guardian. Throughout the years, Frankie was his mom’s pillar of support, helping her to appointments and running errands on her behalf. When Elizabeth was in the hospital, Frankie sat by his mom’s side day in and day out. He missed countless days of work- including almost the entire month of September, and much of August- to be at the hospital from sun up to sun down and soak in as much time as he could.

There is a long road ahead, and much we have yet to do. I am raising this money so that in all the financial stress of what’s to come —for his bills, his sister’s continued care, his mom’s expenses, mortgage, balances…— he can rest a little easier at night. These funds will help with funeral and memorial costs, on top of travel to Puerto Rico where she will rest, Jenny’s needs, attorney fees ($3000-$6000), getting a home down the line where Jenny can come stay, and the weight of Frankie’s own finances after missing so much work. I hope that this can give Frankie comfort and time to grieve before returning to his full-time work schedule. Since I know he nor his family would ever ask others for this kind of help, he did not know of this fundraising effort when I began it a few day’s before his mother passed away. Anything we raise together here will be gifted to him to help ease the strain of life without his mom, and what the future will hold as the legal guardian of Jenny.

Since Elizabeth’s passing, I shared this page with Frankie- he was absolutely overwhelmed and deeply touched by the unexpected yet enormous support from everyone who made this possible. We have both been moved to tears by all of the love and support Frankie and Jennifer have received from friends, family, and strangers alike. You are all family to us, now. From the bottom of my heart, and his, thank you.

To continue to help lift the burden of what lies ahead, the Gofundme will go on. We have almost reached the initial goal of $10,000- there are no words for how amazing that is. I had no idea how many people would show up for Frankie like you all have. I have increased the goal, in wake of what we expect Frankie will need to be able to tie up all of the loose ends; to hire an attorney, deal with court expenses, pay off medical bills, and handle remaining debt. If you can spare anything, I hope that you can donate. And if all you have is prayers, please pray for Elizabeth, for Frankie, for Jenny, for their family.

My heart is so heavy for their family. Life is precious, and nothing is more important than what time we are gifted each day. In Frankie’s words, “Call your mom, call your loved ones. Tell them you love them.” Hold them if you can. Life is so fragile and time is not ours to keep.

For the family and friends who want to celebrate Elizabeth’s life in Florida, her memorial service will be held on Saturday October 5th from 2-4pm at the Boyd-Panciera Funeral home in Pembroke Pines. The address is 1600 N University Dr, Pembroke Pines FL 33024.

With all of my love, thank you.

-Gianna