Love and Support during Jo Ann’s Final Chapter of Life

Dear friends, family, loving supporters, and any kind strangers, we’re reaching out during an incredibly difficult and emotional time for our family. My beautiful mother-in-law, Jo Ann Boyce, has recently been placed on hospice care due to the end stages of COPD, emphysema, and heart failure. Jo has suffered with COPD and emphysema since 2019 and heart issues since long before then. Within the last few months, her health has declined quite rapidly and she can no longer leave her bed without assistance, including the heart-wrenching decline of her ability to interact with the hobbies and people she loves and her basic ability to care for herself. If you know Mama Jo, then you know this has been incredibly difficult for her and, while her health continues to decline, her spirit remains full of love, gratitude, and a passionate fire for the world around her.

She’s made it clear what matters most to her now is spending the time she has left surrounded by her children and grandchildren. More than anything, she wants peace, comfort, and the presence of those she loves most. We’re doing everything we can to make that happen—but we need help.

Jen, her daughter and full-time caregiver, has had to step away from work to be by her side. She has been caring for Jo Ann for the past five years, steadily increasing the care that is required to sustain Jo. Jen does this selflessly, lovingly, and without complaint. Unfortunately, her employer doesn’t offer FMLA, and she doesn’t have any remaining paid time off. Without her steady income, we are wanting to help her manage essential expenses, including the mortgage, groceries, and bills—on top of caregiving duties and expenses, which are now a full-time necessity. While help from a CNA is provided when available, it is not available around the clock, which is what is needed to care for Jo Ann now.

Our goal with this fundraiser is to provide financial support that will:

* Help her amazing daughter, Jen, stay home with her mom without the added stress and worry of bills going unpaid.

* Cover groceries, household expenses, and comfort care items not covered by Medicare.

* Assist with any unforeseen medical costs and remaining medical debts.

* Prepare for future expenses such as cremation, a funeral/celebration of life that Jo Ann desires and absolutely deserves.

Jo Ann has lived a full and extraordinary life. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology, wrote a book about her journey, earned her 34 years of sobriety this past February, and traveled the world—collecting stories, wisdom, and memories along the way. She has survived incredible odds and immense heartache, but she considers herself to have an amazing life that has been rich with love, learning, and laughter. And now, as she nears the end of that journey, we want to honor her wish to rest peacefully—without worry for herself or for her family. Jo Ann has always been a strong advocate for those in need; providing love, care, comfort, support, advice, laughter, a warm bed to sleep in, and a hot meal to eat to anyone she was able to. We are hoping to return that spirit of love, generosity, and kindness back to her throughout the final moments of her life as she deserves nothing less.

If you're able, any donation—no matter the size—will help lighten the load and allow us to focus on what truly matters: love, family, and saying goodbye to our mother and grandmother with grace. If you can’t give financially, please consider sharing this campaign with others. Any kindness or words of comfort are also welcomed and appreciated and will be shared with our family for solace during this difficult and emotional time. We love you all, thank you all so much.

With our deepest gratitude and all of our love,

All of Mama Jo’s babies and grand-babies.