Help Rhonda in her time of loss with medical & funeral costs

For anyone who knows Rhonda Pavlovich Fontana, and her amazing husband Dave Fontana you will know that their want to help their community and anyone who may need anything is second to none. Rhonda is the owner of Atmosphere by Whiteflame (originally Whiteflame Company) a family started and owned business of over 40 years. Those decades were spent building a community of healing, love, and support. Creating a store that provided amazing quality candles, bath products, crystals, home decor and more.

For those of you who have been around for the long haul you got to witness Rhonda reconnecting with Dave during the Covid-19 Pandemic in 2020 and realizing that he was the love of her life. Despite the battles of cross-border romance during a time when travel was nearly impossible, these two amazing souls were dedicated to each other and made it through. While the store had to remain closed during the Pandemic, Dave was also diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. This diagnosis was all Rhonda needed to show her what was next for her. She convinced the border guards to let her across the border, drove to Michigan, and proposed to Dave; her soulmate. As you all know, Dave said yes, and just over a year ago these 2 tied the knot in true Rhonda fashion - they eloped at the Chris Croft museum in Michigan celebrating their love of anything fishing related, and told us all after. We could not have been more happy for these 2 to finally begin the next chapter of their lives together.

Balancing cross-border living, the medical care and support needed for Dave's cancer journey, and attempting to move and reopen a retail business was a huge undertaking. We have watched Dave fight fearlessly, always giving to others despite undergoing over 60 rounds of Chemo, Y90 and external radiation, and trial drug treatments.

Dave knew that Rhonda's dream was to expand Whiteflame Company in a new location where she could offer healing, support, and community to so many more people. Despite his critical cancer diagnosis they jumped in with both feet and moved and rebuilt Rhonda's family business after being closed for 3 years.

Unfortunately this last year has seen Rhonda have to be off from work to manage Dave's care in Michigan, along with her own health. The business has never been able to fully reopen due to the challenges of handling Dave's medical care in Michigan. Despite the tremendous challenges they face, we have watched these 2 forge on.

Today we decided that their stress is too great. Rhonda has been trying to carry everything on her line of credit which is now maxed, and there is no way she can return to work in Dave's final time here. He is requiring home hospice, the medical bills are coming in, they had a flood of raw sewage in the basement of their home, as well as 3 appliances quit in the last month.

We have watched them struggle to sell personal items to cover expenses but now with the need for hospice care, the ongoing medical bills, the burial costs and more looming on the horizon we feel Rhonda should not have to choose between caring for her husband, and being at his side during these final times, or covering the expenses they need to get through the end stages of this incredibly brave journey.

We were not aware they were struggling in a home with sewage fumes, and maxing out Rhonda's finances beyond repair, before today, as Rhonda and Dave have always been more concerned with the store, and how they can help everyone, instead of asking for help for themselves.

These are two people who have done a great deal for everyone they know (and even those they don't), their charity to their community is second to none.

We are asking the community to help however you are able. Any donation no matter how small will make this time easier for Rhonda and Dave to focus on being together, and not worrying about the finances and challenges to come in the final days of Dave's journey. Sharing this GoFundMe on your social media is a great way to help get exposure and raise funds to help these two.

This is an extremely difficult time, and journey that Rhonda and Dave are facing together. They both have so much grace during what is understandably a stressful and heartbreaking event. Even still Dave's first question when we see him is always how we are doing, he always has a smile on his face and something encouraging to say.

We appreciate the support of this community. Dave and Rhonda send their love and extend a huge Thank You to everyone for the continued support.

We thank you all as well for helping us make this time easier for them.