On the morning of Monday, June 30th, our beloved mother, Juana Elizabeth Montes, passed away suddenly from lung cancer at the age of 52. She was from Cartagena, Costa Rica, and had only been diagnosed and hospitalized 28 days before her passing.

Juana was a devoted single mother of six, a hardworking cook who spent decades preparing meals over open flames—despite never smoking a day in her life. Her only priority in life was her children. She often worked multiple jobs to ensure they were safe, fed, and sheltered. Even while suffering from cancer, she worked until just two months before her death.

Her love extended far beyond her family. Juana’s door was always open to anyone in need—a meal, a bed, or simply kindness. She was a second mother to many in our community and a cherished aunt to countless nieces and nephews. Her strength, warmth, and generosity touched everyone around her.

Now, in the wake of her loss, her eldest daughter Mayling, only 28 years old, is taking on the immense responsibility of caring for her younger siblings—some of whom are still teenagers, the youngest just 13. With no other parent or relative able to step in, Mayling is now the sole provider for her family.

While Mayling has followed in her mother’s footsteps and works as a cook, she is currently unemployed due to the off-season and is struggling to cover their basic needs. They are facing urgent financial pressures: mortgage payments to prevent foreclosure, school expenses for the children, utility bills, transportation, food, and Juana’s final funeral costs.

This family is heartbroken and overwhelmed.

We are reaching out for your help. Any donation—no matter the size—will help keep this family together and provide some stability during this heartbreaking transition. Your generosity will go directly toward:

Keeping a roof over their heads

Covering school and daily living expenses for the children

Paying for Juana’s funeral and medical costs

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your kindness, compassion, and support. Juana gave her life in service to others—now we humbly ask for help in honoring her memory and lifting up her children in their greatest time of need.

With gratitude,

The Montes Family