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Memorial Bench for Jan Kuska

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In 2002 , when my Grandpa “Bapa” passed away, my Grandma (“Mama”) had a bench memorialized in his honor at our favorite beach in Naples , Fl. In 2020, Jan Kuska, my “Mama” was diagnosed with a brain tumor, after already successfully battling lung cancer in 2017. When the pandemic forced my fiancé and I to postpone our Halloween wedding, we knew we still wanted to get married on our day with Mama, no matter what challenges we faced. We flew down to see her and even though her health had declined greatly we asked her to be, our matron of honor and best man, she accepted with laughter and her indomitable spirit. Though she was fighting her greatest health battle during our visit, she worked hard to keep her spirits up, had us all entertained and was hopefully filled with joy. The entire time we were in Naples she stressed how much she wanted us to visit “our beach” and sit on Bapa’s bench . We honored her request and went to the beach. I taught my husband how to look for shells- the same way my grandparents taught me and we sat on Bapa’s bench. I told Mama all about it . Her eyes lit up and she smiled. I told her how we picked up seashells and with a grin she said “ now you can start your own collection”. On 11.11.20, after fighting as hard as she could, Mama lost her battle and joined my Grandpa in heaven. While my husband and I were at the beach we noticed that the bench beside Bapa’s was not yet memorialized and we thought how wonderful it would be to secure it for her to ensure that always has a view of the beach she loved, and those of us that love her can visit whenever we choose. This fundraiser to help raise money my husband and I need to have the bench memorialized in her honor and so that my Gtandparents can sit together at “their beach” beneath the stars and amidst the community to which they both so freely gave. Our family is small so two benches is the perfect amount of space for our whole family to go and visit our Mama and Bapa . My Mama was my best friend, my North Star, and my biggest cheerleader. Those who met her saw her light and couldn’t help but smile and those who loved her did so because her spirit and heart were so big. She was loyal and dedicated to the Naples and North Collier community - volunteering at the hospital like it was her full time job. She laughed more than anyone I know and made everyone around her laugh out loud and feel joyful. She was unique, one of a kind - there will never be another woman like her and I consider myself lucky to have her as my Mama. Please donate whatever you can... every little bit helps. We would love to dedicate the bench at Mama’s celebration of life planned for later in 2021.
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Donations 

  • Raymond Kern
    • $114
    • 4 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $250
    • 4 yrs
  • Lane Kuska
    • $50
    • 4 yrs
  • Morgan Sheets
    • $50
    • 4 yrs
  • Elijah Kuska
    • $100
    • 4 yrs
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Organizer

Alexi Kuska
Organizer
Scottsdale, AZ

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