Dear Friends and Family,

My name is Ellie Cano-Chisholm, and I’m Monica Strauss and Jackson Lewis’ little sister. I’m writing this with a heavy heart, feeling the weight of an overwhelming loss that has shaken our family to its core.

On Sunday, September 7th, 2025 Monica lost her beloved husband, John Strauss, and just two days later, on Tuesday, September 9th, 2025 we lost our brother, Jackson Lewis. Monica was the one who found both John and Jackson unresponsive in their homes. The trauma and shock she has gone through are beyond words. My heart breaks for her as she faces not only the loss of her husband and brother, but also the responsibility of being the sole caregiver for her elderly father, who will be moving back in with her. With these added challenges, there are many adjustments to make around the house to accommodate her father’s needs.

To say this is a nightmare would be an understatement. I have been blessed with the most incredible siblings, and I love them both so much. It’s incredibly hard to put into words what it feels like to lose our brother, Jackson, and to see my sister, Monica, face such heartbreaking loss. My heart is shattered for her, especially knowing how much she has to carry right now.

To make this tragedy even harder to process, I also gave birth to my first child on September 6th—just one day before John passed away on September 7th. Then, Jackson passed away on September 9th. It feels like a horrifying domino effect of grief and devastation. I was the happiest I had ever been, holding my newborn in my arms, and then in the blink of an eye, we were crushed by the loss of both John and Jackson.

John Strauss, a devoted husband and father, leaves behind Monica and their three children: Lamar, Soren, and Allegra. These children now face the heartbreaking reality of growing up without their father. The thought of them navigating high school and college without John’s guidance and love is something I can’t even imagine.

Jackson Lewis, our brother, also leaves behind three children: Jackson Jr., Jaiya, and Lincoln who are now facing the loss of their father at a time when they need him most. While they are supported by their mother, this loss is still a deeply painful and life-altering event for them.

Please note, this fund is specifically for Monica and her children. If you’d like to help Jackson’s children, they have a separate GoFundMe campaign, which you can find by following this LINK .

How You Can Help

I’m reaching out to you, our community, because Monica needs us now more than ever. Any donation, no matter how small, will go directly to helping her and her children as they deal with funeral expenses, depleted paid leave (Monica’s bereavement leave is ending on Monday, September 15th), and the significant emotional and financial challenges they face.

If you’d like to donate in a different way, please contact me. I’m happy to coordinate any other form of help.

Please share this campaign with your friends and family. Every bit of support matters, and together we can help Monica and her family as they navigate this incredibly painful time.

Thank you so much for your love, support, and compassion. I hope this fund can offer them some relief as they face a world that’s been turned upside down.

With all my heart,

Ellie Cano-Chisholm

Monica and Jackson’s little sister