$4,100 raised
·69 donations
Memorial fund for George Giardelli
Donation protected
My name is Shavonne Montesano and I am creating this Go Fund me page on behalf of the Giardelli family who has been a second family of mine for the past 30 years. I will start by telling you a little bit about myself and my history with the Giardelli's. Our families grew up in Belleville with our backyards connected. My siblings grew very close to siblings: Ashley and George Giardelli as young children. Their wonderful mother, Linda Giardelli raised her two amazing children. We were inseparable. When we were too short to climb the fence we would sneak out to trade Nintendo games and Cabbage Patch kids dolls over the fence. Once we were tall and limber enough, we hopped over our wooden fence so many times until the fence completely collapsed and we've decided to leave our yards completely open ever since. We had an exceptional childhood. Our relationship prolonged as adults and parents. Ashley is currently my best friend of 30 years and she is my daughter's (Jillian) God mother as well. My daughter and I also grew even closer to George and his wife Lora as each of us became parents to daughter's close in age. Parenting our children together and watching them become mini best friends just like we were as kid's has been beautiful and sentimental to watch.
I would now like to talk about George, his wife Lora and their little girl Adelynn, as they are the purpose of this fund raising campaign. George found his soulmate, Lora, and was married at the age of 25. George and Lora wanted to have a family more than anything. They didn't feel complete without having a child of their own. After 12 years of being married and experiencing years of unsuccessful efforts trying to conceive, they considered in vetro fertilization (ivf) .They understood the procedure was not covered by insurance and will be undoubtedly costly and often times unsuccessful.
Regardless, their unwavering determination drove them to take on the uncertain opportunity with high hopes. George and Lora withdrew $15,000 from their savings they had originally set aside to buy a home. Fortunately, George and Lora were successful in their first IVF procedure and announced they were finally going to be parents. The day they broke the news was the happiest day of their life.
Lora's due date was 4/14/2018, however she experienced complications in her pregnancy. Ultimately the complications caused Lora to be rushed to the hospital 10 weeks shy of her due date. Adelynn Rose Giardelli was delivered via emergency c section weighing only 3.4lbs. Due to her significant prematurity, Adelynn spent the first two and a half months in the NICU. Not a day that went by that her devoted parents weren't by her side. The grim understanding that there was a chance Adelynn may not make it home made the new parents grow intensely distraught. Adelynn was their whole life.
More struggles insued when Adelynn was finally released from the hospital. This included developmental delays, frequent hospital visits due to respiratory infections, and appointments with physical and occupational therapists. Regardless, George and Lora felt that Adelynn was the answer to their prayers and couldn't feel more complete as a new family and even more so when Adelynn fought her way out of the NICU. Adelynn, now two, continues to receive early intervention therapy and physical therapy 4 appointments per week.
Although George and Lora sacrificed their savings for a down payment for a home, finances were finally starting to permit them to at least move out of their one bedroom apartment into a two bedroom. They signed the lease and planned to move in on Saturday February 1, 2020. Even more exciting, Adelynn's 2nd birthday was the following day, February 2, 2020. They were overjoyed to provide a better life for each other, and to celebrate Adelynn's 2nd birthday.
Despite their exciting plans, on the morning of move-in day, Saturday February 1st, 2020, Lora woke up in the morning to find her husband George was nowhere to be found. Minutes turned into hours as family and friends frantically made every attempt to get a hold of George, but they were unsuccessful. The mounting uncertainty compelled the family to file a missing person's report late that afternoon. It was completely out of character for George to just disappear without a trace.
Subsequently, police arrived to deliver the most unthinkable news. George was found but he would never be returning home again. He was gone. Leaving his wife a widow at 38 and his daughter fatherless, one day shy of her second birthday. The extent of questions of how this could possibly be remain unanswered leaving family and friends distraught, stunned, and utterly confused.
As the Giardelli's are left to mourn the untimely death of George, they are also left with heavy concern of how Lora can possibly assure her stability withstanding her obligations as a single mother.
As Lora now has no choice, she will be obligated to take on more time spent at work and away from her daughter, accruing daycare costs and having sole responsibility of Adelynns medical bills and George's funeral expenses.
At this time I am gratefully requesting any financial assistance to provide Lora and Adelynn with the least restrictive opportunity to pick up the pieces and somehow move on with their lives. Donations of any denominations will be used to cover funeral costs, and if possible, additional funds to stabilize Lora's obligation to get a head start on caring for Adelynn as a single mother.
As a single mother myself, I know how challenging it can be to care for a child by yourself. I have always had the loving support of the Giardelli family to lean on in my difficult time and to this day. However, I could have never imagined the immensity of Lora's sudden loss. As I myself am taking on every opportunity to support the Giardelli’s with as much love and support I can possibly give, there is only so much I can possibly contribute to the enormity of the financial burden Lora is faced with.
I ask that you please take the Giardelli's heart-breaking story into your hearts. Any and all donations are greatly appreciated and will help make a difference in the lives of the Giardelli's. We appreciate all who have reached out and assisted in this terrible loss as well as your condolences and prayers. May God bless the Giardelli family.
I would now like to talk about George, his wife Lora and their little girl Adelynn, as they are the purpose of this fund raising campaign. George found his soulmate, Lora, and was married at the age of 25. George and Lora wanted to have a family more than anything. They didn't feel complete without having a child of their own. After 12 years of being married and experiencing years of unsuccessful efforts trying to conceive, they considered in vetro fertilization (ivf) .They understood the procedure was not covered by insurance and will be undoubtedly costly and often times unsuccessful.
Regardless, their unwavering determination drove them to take on the uncertain opportunity with high hopes. George and Lora withdrew $15,000 from their savings they had originally set aside to buy a home. Fortunately, George and Lora were successful in their first IVF procedure and announced they were finally going to be parents. The day they broke the news was the happiest day of their life.
Lora's due date was 4/14/2018, however she experienced complications in her pregnancy. Ultimately the complications caused Lora to be rushed to the hospital 10 weeks shy of her due date. Adelynn Rose Giardelli was delivered via emergency c section weighing only 3.4lbs. Due to her significant prematurity, Adelynn spent the first two and a half months in the NICU. Not a day that went by that her devoted parents weren't by her side. The grim understanding that there was a chance Adelynn may not make it home made the new parents grow intensely distraught. Adelynn was their whole life.
More struggles insued when Adelynn was finally released from the hospital. This included developmental delays, frequent hospital visits due to respiratory infections, and appointments with physical and occupational therapists. Regardless, George and Lora felt that Adelynn was the answer to their prayers and couldn't feel more complete as a new family and even more so when Adelynn fought her way out of the NICU. Adelynn, now two, continues to receive early intervention therapy and physical therapy 4 appointments per week.
Although George and Lora sacrificed their savings for a down payment for a home, finances were finally starting to permit them to at least move out of their one bedroom apartment into a two bedroom. They signed the lease and planned to move in on Saturday February 1, 2020. Even more exciting, Adelynn's 2nd birthday was the following day, February 2, 2020. They were overjoyed to provide a better life for each other, and to celebrate Adelynn's 2nd birthday.
Despite their exciting plans, on the morning of move-in day, Saturday February 1st, 2020, Lora woke up in the morning to find her husband George was nowhere to be found. Minutes turned into hours as family and friends frantically made every attempt to get a hold of George, but they were unsuccessful. The mounting uncertainty compelled the family to file a missing person's report late that afternoon. It was completely out of character for George to just disappear without a trace.
Subsequently, police arrived to deliver the most unthinkable news. George was found but he would never be returning home again. He was gone. Leaving his wife a widow at 38 and his daughter fatherless, one day shy of her second birthday. The extent of questions of how this could possibly be remain unanswered leaving family and friends distraught, stunned, and utterly confused.
As the Giardelli's are left to mourn the untimely death of George, they are also left with heavy concern of how Lora can possibly assure her stability withstanding her obligations as a single mother.
As Lora now has no choice, she will be obligated to take on more time spent at work and away from her daughter, accruing daycare costs and having sole responsibility of Adelynns medical bills and George's funeral expenses.
At this time I am gratefully requesting any financial assistance to provide Lora and Adelynn with the least restrictive opportunity to pick up the pieces and somehow move on with their lives. Donations of any denominations will be used to cover funeral costs, and if possible, additional funds to stabilize Lora's obligation to get a head start on caring for Adelynn as a single mother.
As a single mother myself, I know how challenging it can be to care for a child by yourself. I have always had the loving support of the Giardelli family to lean on in my difficult time and to this day. However, I could have never imagined the immensity of Lora's sudden loss. As I myself am taking on every opportunity to support the Giardelli’s with as much love and support I can possibly give, there is only so much I can possibly contribute to the enormity of the financial burden Lora is faced with.
I ask that you please take the Giardelli's heart-breaking story into your hearts. Any and all donations are greatly appreciated and will help make a difference in the lives of the Giardelli's. We appreciate all who have reached out and assisted in this terrible loss as well as your condolences and prayers. May God bless the Giardelli family.
Donations
Co-organizers (2)
Shavonne Monte
Organizer
Belleville, NJ
Lora Giardelli
Beneficiary
Ashley Giardelli
Co-organizer