Support for Lester White's Funeral Expenses

**Note: We are also accepting Canadian e-transfer donations outside of GoFundMe which we are adding to the fundraising total**

Friends and family,

My name is Dorothy Cooper. I am a mother, grandmother, and grieving sister. My dear brother Lester White passed away on Sunday, February 26, 2023, at 6 pm. My family and I are currently fundraising for support for my brother's viewing and funeral service. We are looking to our loved ones and community members to help us during this incredibly heartbreaking time.

Who He Was

Lester George White was the youngest of 10 children. He came to Canada in 1990 for a better life and to support his five children, including three sons and two daughters. Lester was a sharp, outgoing, and jovial man who loved to make people laugh. However, for the last 20 years, he dealt with chronic pain and mobility issues and was unable to continue working to support his family. In December 2022, he was diagnosed with an abdominal aneurysm which eventually caused an aortic blockage occlusion.

Last week, after this blockage suddenly erupted, he was rushed to the hospital and died after surgery. The sudden nature of this tragedy is devastating for our family; we were extremely unprepared for his death. Up until that weekend, Lester was his happy and spirited self, joking with his nieces and nephews, and trying to live his best life given his circumstances. However, because of a lack of resources, we are coming together as a family to give Lester the respectful and compassionate send-off he deserves.

How You Can Help

As Black people, we have often been told that it is shameful to ask others for support. However, as someone who has dedicated my life to supporting family, friends, and community members for decades - financially, emotionally, and otherwise, including as a healthcare professional - I believe that we are all entitled to health, wealth, and well-being. I believe there is a quiet strength in asking your community for help in times of need. There should be no shame in our family's vulnerability.

With that, I would like to fundraise $12,000 to pay for Lester's viewing and funeral service expenses. We have already covered the cost of the cemetery but outstanding expenses include the casket, flowers, church fees, as well as GoFundMe's processing fees (2.9% + 0.30¢ for each transaction). This is the minimum amount for the above expenses.

Our hope is to raise this money by March 31, 2023, since the viewing and funeral services will be set for sometime in April (information about these events will be available to friends and family when available).

Whether it is $5, $10, $20, $50, or whatever you can afford, every bit counts, and we appreciate it all. And to those who have been blessed with access to more money and resources, please consider donating more.

Thank you for your time, love, and support during our time of mourning.

Dorothy