Help Us Honor Tonya's Life and Legacy

Tonya's Family

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved Tonya, who bravely fought breast cancer for 13 months. Tonya showed extraordinary strength, grace, and courage every step of the way. Even on her hardest days, she continued to uplift those around her with love, laughter, and unwavering spirit.

Tonya was more than her illness. She was a mother, a friend, a caregiver, and a bright light in the lives of so many. Her kindness, warmth, and strength touched everyone she met.

As we grieve this tremendous loss, the family is also faced with the difficult responsibility of arranging Tonya's funeral and burial. We want to give her the beautiful and dignified farewell she deserves, something that truly reflects the love she gave to this world.

We are reaching out for help to cover these expenses. Any donation, no matter the amount, will go directly toward honoring Tonya's life and easing the financial burden on the family during this incredibly painful time.

If you are unable to contribute financially, we ask that you share this page and keep Tonya and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

Thank you for your love, support, and kindness throughout her journey and now again during this time.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Tressa

Original post left below for reference:

Hello, my name is Tressa Bell and I am raising money for a friend and coworker who is facing tremendous hardships right now.

I supervise a team of In-Home Aides who go out to client's homes and provide personal care and chore services to some of the most vulnerable adults in our community. This is a rewarding, but physically demanding job, which requires a Certified Nursing Assistant to perform. Tonya DiNolfi is the lead aide in this team and has been a valuable asset to the team since June 2011.

About two weeks ago, Tonya went to the doctor because she was having some vertigo, was diagnosed with a sinus infection, and placed on antibiotics. Last week she was still not feeling well and actually became much sicker on Wednesday. Her family called an ambulance and she was taken to the emergency room. After a few tests she learned that the sinus infection was not the cause of her vertigo, instead it was Stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer that has spread to her brain. Tonya and her family were told by the doctors that she has an estimated 6-9 months to live and that she should stop working immediately.

Tonya's plan will be to retire at the end of this month, but will be on leave until this time. This news was very unexpected and not something that Tonya was prepared for. She is facing enormous emotional, physical and also financial difficulties as a result of this unforeseen diagnosis and treatments. Tonya did not want to ask anyone for help, but after pleading with her to allow us to help her, she has agreed to let me set up this GoFundMe.

Tonya lives a simple life and her amazing ability to be grateful in any situation makes her the strongest woman I know. She never complains, has gratitude for even the small things in life, and helps everyone she can in any way she can. She has the values of a Saint, and that is not an exaggeration or overstatement. She is so deserving of the help and kindness of others in her time of need. She has spent her life literally serving others, so please help me show her the love and support she needs right now.