Hello, my name is Jeanette Hiatt.

Thursday, November 14, was supposed to be like any other day. I had gotten off work to meet with family at a restaurant when my mom had gotten a call from my cousin with terrible news about my aunt. While we were unable to fully process what was happening in the moment, all we knew was that we needed to get there as soon as possible.

When we arrived, paramedics and police were at my aunt's house where we were able to confirm that my aunt had passed away. It was unexpected, sudden, and shocking.

Maria Cortes was not only a beloved aunt but also a devoted daughter, dependable sister, and loving mother. She has been a friend to many and an important resource for her community. She was fun, kind, patient, and willing to help others with whatever struggles they had. With that, I wanted to organize this fundraiser to help support her son, Justin, whom she leaves behind. The donations go toward paying the costs for the funeral, so any assistance is truly appreciated.

Our family would just like to say thank you to everyone who has been providing us with extra love, support, and understanding during this difficult time.