It started with two teenagers in the Pennsylvania countryside. Karyce was 17, a girl who loved horses, dogs, and—most of all—boys with trucks. Ethan was that country boy. Their early days weren't spent in movie theaters; they were spent out in the mud on the backroads of Bradford County, getting trucks stuck and figuring life out together. While Ethan was under the hood changing transmissions—honing the skills that made him the outstanding mechanic he is today—Karyce was right there by his side. He was her "Honey Bunny." That was her name for him from those first days as teenagers all the way through fifteen years of life, marriage, and parenthood. It was always "Honey Bunny."

On Wednesday, that 15-year journey was shattered in an instant. Ethan, a man who has spent his life working hard to provide for his family, came home from a regular day of work to a scene that no husband should ever have to witness. He walked into their home and found Karyce gone unexpectedly at just 32 years old. There was no warning, no illness to prepare for, and no chance to say goodbye. The trauma of that moment—of coming home to a house that had suddenly lost its heart—is a weight Ethan now carries as he looks into the eyes of their three children. He is now faced with the impossible task of explaining to them why the woman who was the center of their universe isn't coming back.

The tragedy of this loss is felt deeply across our entire community. If you live in Wellsburg, Waverly, or Ridgebury Township, you likely knew Karyce. As the Assistant Deli Manager at the Dandy and later the Assistant Manager at the Dollar General, she was a fixture in the daily lives of her neighbors. She was the one who brightened the room the moment she walked through the door. She didn’t just "work" in the community; she was a part of its fabric. But her true passion was always "her pack." Karyce had a heart for animals that couldn't be contained. Ever since she was a little girl with five pets in her bedroom, she couldn't say no to a creature in need. If there was a stray dog or cat in the neighborhood, it eventually found its way to Karyce. Today, the Cole home stands as a testament to that love, filled with fish tanks, pets, and the many hearts she took pride in filling.

The void left behind is not just emotional; it is foundational. Karyce lived a busy life, but Sunday mornings were sacred. That was the time for her "Big Breakfast." In a world of school, football, and long work weeks, Sunday morning was when the family stopped and anchored themselves to one another. It was her way of making sure Summer, Little Ethan, and Hunter knew they were safe and loved. Now, Ethan is left to maintain that anchor alone for their three children: Summer Renee, their eldest daughter who is now navigating the world without her mother’s daily guidance; Ethan Ryan ("Little Ethan"), their 10-year-old football player who carries his mother’s spirit for making people laugh; and Hunter Reed, the youngest, who will grow up hearing stories of how his mother worshipped the ground he walked on.

This family is no stranger to the weight of grief. They have already walked the hardest road a parent can endure, having been predeceased by their daughter, Macy Lynne. The fact that Ethan must now lead his remaining three children through the loss of their mother—while carrying the trauma of how he found her—is a burden that would break the strongest of men. We are seeking to raise funds to provide a "Bridge of Stability" for this family. Ethan is a man who knows how to fix things—he’s a mechanic by trade and a provider by nature. But even the most skilled mechanic cannot fix a shattered heart, and he cannot be expected to manage the mounting financial pressure of a funeral, a mortgage, and three children while paralyzed by this level of shock.

To ensure transparency for the donors and those who look to provide significant support for families in crisis, we have outlined the critical needs. The funds will first cover the final arrangements and committal services through Maryott-Bowen Funeral Home in Towanda, ensuring Karyce is laid to rest with the dignity she earned. Beyond that, we are aiming to provide long-term stability relief. This includes the mortgage and utilities for the home on Columbia Cross Roads, ensuring the kids don't lose the only safe place they have left. It also covers the "mouths to feed"—the many animals Karyce rescued—and ensures that Little Ethan stays on the football field, Summer has the resources she needs for school, and all three children can access the support they will need to process this life-altering event.

Karyce was my sister. I watched her grow from a girl who filled her room with animals to a woman who filled a home with love. She spent 32 years making people happy. Now, I am asking the community, the local businesses she served, and those who have a heart for families who have lost everything to help me keep her world spinning for Ethan and the kids. For those in a position to give charitably, your donation here is more than a gift; it is a lifeline. You are helping a father keep his footing so he can focus on being the parent his children need right now, instead of worrying about how to keep the lights on or how to pay for the tragedy that met him at the door on Wednesday.

Please donate if you can, and share this story to help us reach every corner of PA, NY, and beyond. Let’s show Ethan, Summer, Little Ethan, and Hunter that in their darkest hour, the community Karyce loved so much is ready to carry them.