Help Us Keep Our Auntie’s Home: A Legacy Worth Saving

Our Aunt Gloria, our beloved “Auntie,” was a woman of strength, compassion, and quiet courage.

In 1970, she became the first in our family to attend college. Auntie bought a house in 1982. That house, standing strong for over 40 years, became the heart of our family: a place of safety, warm meals, family parties, Sunday laughter, and so many childhood memories.

Auntie was more than an aunt to us. She was our mother when our own couldn’t be. She provided for us, loved us, and gave us a home when we needed it most. On December 16, 2017, we were by her side when she took her final breath in the very driveway of the home she nurtured for 35 years. That day changed our lives forever. Now, after eight long years, we have a rare and emotional opportunity: our uncle, who no longer wishes to keep the house, has decided to gift it to us.

To take ownership, we must cover several financial hurdles, including:

• Back property taxes (2 years)

• State and county taxes based on the property’s value

• Legal and administrative fees related to the deed transfer

This home represents more than a roof over our heads. It’s a chance to build the generational wealth we’ve never known. It’s a way for us, two sisters living on disability income, to break the cycle of instability and rising rent. It’s also a way to honor Auntie’s legacy by continuing her story within those same four walls.

This house holds joy and pain. It was purchased after Auntie and our uncle lost their only daughter. The compensation from the hospital after her tragic passing helped them purchase it. I was just 11 years old when she died in the bedroom, on my birthday. That loss marked the home, but it didn’t define it. Auntie filled it with love and resilience, making it a sanctuary despite heartbreak.

Now it’s our turn to keep her spirit alive in the home she cherished. Any amount you give will bring us closer to that goal.

Your donation will help us:

• Preserve a family home full of love and memories

• Escape the anxiety of housing insecurity

• Start a new chapter as first-time homeowners

• Build a place where our family can once again gather, heal, and grow

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for reading our story. Thank you for helping us keep Auntie’s house and her legacy alive.

With gratitude,

Sabrena & Catina