My grandmother was the heart of our family, a true matriarch who created a big family tree that I am proud to be a part of. She was a mother to eight children, with my mom as her oldest, and she was born in Mexico before coming to the United States, becoming a citizen, and spending most of her life here. Her legacy includes dozens of grandchildren and even great-grandchildren, all of whom were touched by her love and strength.

Recently, my mother and her siblings have come together to split the cost of my grandmother’s funeral expenses. My mother is responsible for a portion of the total, and we are doing our best to honor my grandmother with a beautiful farewell. We don’t come from wealth, and money has always been a struggle for our family, so this fundraiser is a way to relieve some of the financial stress and ensure my grandmother receives the tribute she deserves.

Everybody has people that they love, and when it feels like everything is crumbling, the best thing we can do is help build each other back up enough to keep going. Anything helps and is very much appreciated—thank you for your time and support.