Hi, my name is Amy Leonard, and I started this GoFundMe campaign in honor of my uncle, Fran Tichelaar, and his three living children, Adam, Brandon, and Samantha. Fran unexpectedly experienced a medical emergency in the early hours of the morning on January 16th, 2022. He was MedFlighted to Tufts Medical Center in Boston and cared for in the ICU. Unfortunately, his body was unable to recover even with his healthcare team's best care and efforts.

Fran passed away peacefully surrounded by family members. He made the selfless decision to be an organ donor prior to his death, and his family was able to honor his wishes. His daughter, Sam, could not think of a better way to honor her Dad; even in her greatest sadness, the thought of her Dad giving life to another individual provided her with peace and comfort, knowing her Dad has the potential to live on in others.

The funds of this campaign will go directly towards the expenses for final arrangements for Fran. Unfortunately, there is no life insurance or savings to assist with the end-of-life expenses. His children have experienced more heartache and sadness than anyone can imagine as young adults. They lost their mother at an early age, their older brother, and now their father. There has been missed time at work, a loss in household income, and the emotional toll of losing a parent. Anything to lessen the financial burden on his three grieving children is greatly appreciated.

Hold your loved ones just a little tighter, and keep the Tichelaar family in your thoughts and prayers.