Hi all. My sister Krista and I are sad to share the news that last month our mother, Jeanette Varela, passed away after enduring a nearly decade-long battle with dementia. Even though her death wasn’t unexpected and we’re relieved she is finally at peace, saying goodbye to her has nevertheless been difficult.

Krista and I are humbly asking for your help with her end-of-life costs. We’re both currently unemployed and what little funds our mother left behind are tied up in probate for the time being. Though we have been well-supported through this challenging time, we’re still unprepared for navigating the expenses associated with the death of a parent.

We are requesting $2,000 to help cover the costs of her obituary and a plaque in Christ Presbyterian Church’s memorial garden. Krista and I both live out-of-town, so the funds will also help go toward our travel expenses to Tucson.

We appreciate any and all funds that you can comfortably contribute. If you are in Tucson and would like to attend her memorial service, it will be held at Christ Presbyterian Church (6565 East Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85710) on Wednesday, February 28th at 1pm, with reception to follow.

As a secondary request, if you have any pictures of Jeanette, we’d love to see them and put them in a photo slideshow for the service.

Below is the full obituary that we wrote that won’t appear in the newspaper. If you’re unable to attend her service, please feel free to share in the comments any memories you have with her or a way that she made a positive impact on your life.

Thank you for your support.

Jeanette Adele Varela, 62, of Tucson, Arizona, died on January 25, 2024 after a long battle with dementia.

She was born in Tucson, AZ on November 4, 1961 to Helen and Charles Andre. Jeanette graduated from Rincon High School in 1979, and attended the University of Arizona, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She began working in healthcare as a cardiac nurse, but spent the majority of her career serving as a school nurse for Sunnyside Unified School District.

Her kindness, generosity, and enthusiasm for helping others extended to everyone around her, people and animals alike. Even in her final years, she would often lend a helping hand to fellow residents in her assisted living communities. Jeanette was a lifelong Wildcat and her favorite time of year was U of A basketball season. She was also an avid fan of Bruce Springsteen and Andrew Lloyd Weber musicals.

Jeanette was preceded in death by her father Charles, mother Helen, and brothers Bob and Steve. She is survived by her children, Krista and Nic, and brother Bill.

A celebration of life for Jeanette will take place on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, 1pm at Christ Presbyterian Church, 6565 E. Broadway Blvd, Tucson, Arizona. In lieu of flowers or gifts, please consider making a donation in her name to Casa de los Niños.