Hi, I’m Jess. My mom, Dana, passed away unexpectedly this past Monday, May 8th, at 64 years old.

I am creating this GoFundMe to help my dad cope with the financial burdens associated with her loss.

My mom had her share of flaws, but her fiery spirit and the absolute joy she gained from making people laugh are the things I will remember the most, and they are helping carry me through my grief.

And although I grieve deeply, I know my pain is nothing compared to that of my dad, who lost his best friend and — although some may call it cliche — his soulmate. Because if ever there were two souls made for each other, it was my mom and dad. My dad has shared with me stories of him doing something unbeknownst to my mom, and her complete lack of surprise when she found out, because she just knew. She could "tell" him things without speaking a word. It was like they shared a brain. And after being together for 43 years, how could they not?

My dad spent years caring for my mom after her two strokes severely impacted her mobility. He bathed her, helped her to the toilet and cleaned her up when she couldn’t make it in time. He fed her, made sure she had clean clothes and was warm and comfortable. He did all this often at the expense of his own personal well-being, because being a live-in nurse while working full-time doesn’t leave much time for self-care.

This GoFundMe will help him with the obvious expenses associated with death (my mom's cremation and related end-of-life expenses), and anything else will help him do the things he couldn't afford or otherwise didn't have the time for while caring for my mom and working a demanding full-time manual labor job: buying a new stove and a microwave (he currently has no microwave, and his stove no longer works); helping him fix his beloved truck so he can go camping and fishing again, as he and my mom so dearly enjoyed; and helping him fix up the home he and my mom shared for 20+ years that has since fallen into a bit of disrepair.

Even if you can only spare $1 — even if all you can do is share this GoFundMe with others — please know you are appreciated beyond words for the love you are showing to me and my dad.

With gratitude,

Jess