Supporting Jeff’s Children After an Unimaginable Loss

Hi, my name is Jody, and I’m organizing this fundraiser on behalf of a dear friend, Tabatha, who is navigating an unimaginable loss.

This past week, Jeff—her partner of over 22 years and the father of their four children—passed away after a long and difficult battle with mental health. His sudden death has left a huge void, not just emotionally, but financially as well. His partner and children are now left to navigate funeral costs, grief support, and the weight of rebuilding their lives without him.

With her permission, I want to share part of their story in Tabatha’s words:

"From the moment Jeff walked into the pub in October 2002, he had my heart. It was my very first shift when he said, 'You're the new girl.' I joked back, 'Oh, so you're the funny guy of the group!' He turned to his friends and said, 'I'm going to marry her.' They laughed—but he wasn’t kidding. That was Jeff: the jokester, the loudest laugh in the room, and someone with a heart full of love he was waiting to share.

Despite a traumatic past he could never quite outrun, Jeff showed up with kindness, laughter, and love. We became best friends almost instantly and never looked back. Together, we built a life we were told we could never have. A life rooted in love. He was, and always will be, my person, my best friend, and my love.

In our 22 years together, we raised four amazing children: Mollie (21), Jack (16), Lacee (13), and Maggie (4). Jeff also had four older children—Jordan, Cassandra, Kody, and Courtney—and five grandchildren he was incredibly proud of. I see pieces of him in each one of them: his humour, his determination, his heart.

Jeff was the hardest-working man I’ve ever known. Providing for his family was his greatest purpose. But he also lived with deep, ongoing mental health struggles. He tried many times over the years to heal from the pain of his past, but this past year was the hardest yet. On June 19th, 2025, Jeff lost his fight with mental illness. The loss is devastating, and the void he leaves behind is immeasurable."

Now Tabatha and her children are facing this tragedy without the man who meant the world to them. On top of their heartbreak, they must now find a way to fund Jeff’s memorial and support their children through the grieving process.

This fundraiser will help cover:

-A respectful memorial so the children can say goodbye

-Counselling and grief support for the kids

-Financial stability as they adjust to life without Jeff

If you’re able to give, even a small amount makes a difference. And if you’re not in a position to donate, simply sharing this fundraiser would mean so much.

Thank you for helping honour Jeff by showing up for Tabatha and the children he loved most.

With deep gratitude,

Jody