Ceremonial expenses needed for George Cloud

Hi Friends and acquaintances, our dear friend George passed away yesterday after a somewhat long and vicious battle with cancer. His final days were marked by indescribable physical and emotional pain as you can imagine would be for anyone knowing that their life was soon to be cut short. He was only 45 years old.Although we will sorely miss him we know that he is now in the precious arms of God. May he find peace and comfort there.George was my friend for a great many years but it is with grief in my heart that I must tell you that with my not knowing how close to death that he really was, I let a spat come between us which now feels unbearably petty. Yes,we had our little spats here and there as most friends do but would always make up coming back together again laughing as if nothing had happened.

 

 

 

The last time I spoke with him he sounded fairly well, and while I knew that he was still very sick I took for granted that we would contact each other again shortly and that we would make up just a we had many times before.I am also ill, not terminally ill or nearly as sick as George was but this was what made both of our temperaments understandably more impatient at times and unfortunately made it more difficult for me at least to reach out to him in a more timely manner.Just recently, however,his closest friend who goes by the nickname Space who you can see in the main picture window with George in the early days,( he is very creative and an artist as well) and who is also a peacemaker at heart,explained to me just how sick George was getting. I realized that I needed to reach out to him at once and tell him that I missed him and loved him and that I wanted to talk as soon as he got the chance.

 

 

But he never got the message.

 

 

It was too late for he was too sick to even read the message and I now will live with that regret for the rest of my life. To those reading this, when these things happen it is a stark reminder of what is really the most important thing in this life, and that is our relationships with people. Don't wait another day, another hour or even another second,to tell the people in your life how much you love and care for them for you might not get that chance. You've heard it said before many times but when the finality of death is upon us the phrase "We are not promised tomorrow" becomes such a reality that you can never quite be prepared for it and at least in this lifetime things that you wanted to say to them you can never amend.

 

 

 

But this is not about me. It is first and foremost to help Space and his mother with funeral expenses but also in part, at the the very least about my wish that somewhere, someway or someday that George will know that even after his passing I had once again sought to make it right.

 

 

 

We all know how expensive funeral preparations can be which is now primarily falling to Space and his mother Lynda to arrange. Space and Lynda have been Georges primary caretakers for at least the past couple of years or more.He was unfortunately estranged from most of is family for reasons many of you that were close to George already know but for privacy reasons I will not mention. Yet stepping into his families place was Space and his mother for many years even before he got sick. Ive never seen a bond so tightly between two friends who have known each other since middle school and from what Ive been told from George Spaces mother Lynda as well, who although is now elderly put forth all her energy in care taking for George.

 

 

 

 

They cared for him not only in and out of the hospital but  as you can see Lynda in the car above with George, drove him to and from an enumerable amount of doctors visits and gave all that they could with very little financial support but even more importantly they gave George a great deal of emotional support as well.Before George fell ill and could work, he helped out Space many times too when he could. But when he got this dreaded diagnosis and could no longer work,Space and his mother were the true heroes in George's life not only by stepping in earlier as family but as caretakers throughout his entire illness which consisted of a diagnosis of multiple forms of cancer that sadly ravaged his entire body. I cant imagine how difficult that it was for both of them as Space also suffers from a chronic condition from an unfortunate accident and who now suffers with chronic pain on a day to day basis and is still waiting and hoping that his disability will be approved and his mother is living primarily off of social security. Lynda was faced with not only caring for for Space at times on his worst days but for George as well but did so for both,caring for equally as if George was also her son.

 

 

 

 

Because of this the family has struggled at times to manage bills and living expenses since due to Spaces accident he has also been unable to work for quite some time.That is what makes these two so special. Even in the midst of their own struggles they cared for George even though at times there was little to go around if even just for the two of them. Now after Georges unfortunate passing there is no money between the two of him for cremation and the cost of services. On average  it will be roughly 6500 dollars for Georges cremation and ceremony and even with assistance for a ceremony that honors George in the way that they strongly desire they will most likely be close to 5000 dollars out of pocket. This fee generally includes some services such as taking care of any necessary permits, acquiring copies of the death certificate, and assisting with other necessary paperwork.Some other overhead costs related to the funeral home are the use of their facilities and staff, transporting the body, a temporary casket and urn, all very expensive.

 

 

 

I ask that you find it in your hearts to donate whatever you can, to help these kind and loving souls to not only give George a proper ceremony in which would ease this financial struggle especially during these perilous times.They cared for George willingly and without complaint yet it has exhausted them not only monetarily but also emotionally. This would not only give George a proper send off by honoring his life but to greatly help the two people who loved with all that they had.People like this are rare in the world.We hear stories in the headlines everyday about selfish and evil people committing all manner of deplorable acts against their fellow man but rarely do we hear about the many good acts done by the many decent people who do still exist in the world and even more rarely are they aided for their acts of kindness.

 

 

 

I would also like to mention that all that they were concerned with was for funeral expenses for George so that they could honor him in the best way that they could but I decided to tell the rest of the story, the full story of true friendship and love as if George is here beside me cheering on and endorsing my every word.They didn't ask for me to add this side of the story,but it was fitting to tell as it will give the reader a better understanding of what a special relationship that these three had.If you can find it in your hearts to help Space and his mother in their last act of kindness for George it will be well spent for our dearest George and to greatly help ease Space and his mothers minds in not only George's last time of need but so that they can grieve without having to worry about covering some of these exorbitant costs. I know that God will richly bless you for any help you give as these two who have defined for me at least, what true love and family is all about.


We also want to give a big thanks to his other long time friend Olaf, who was there for George in many ways as well. From what I have heard from Space, Olaf just recently offered to take George shopping to hopefully raise his spirits and to buy much needed clothes and whatever other necessities that he needed but George was so sick that he just couldn't muster up the strength to go.

 

 

We welcome any donations and prayers, no amount is too small.God bless you for reading this and to all who can give to this fine family.