Hello,

My name is Tommy Medzius (like "hedges"), and my parents names were Kathy Alcordo and Timothy Medzius.

This fundraiser is to help with the disposition and cremation of my dad, Timothy, who died at the VA hospital in Palo Alto on November 26th. He had been struggling with going to dialysis 3 days per week for 3 hours each day to treat stage 5 kidney failure, heart disease that led to a TAVR procedure to replace his aortic valve in his heart, and a completely blocked bladder which required him to self-cath daily; all while being extremely depressed from bouncing around California's homeless veterans housing programs after losing his apartment around the time his girlfriend of 20+ years died in 2021. I think it's fair to say that he had a rough final years to his life. I put in a lot of effort to advocate and support him in navigating the system, but there was truly obstacles every step of the way. Now, trying to find an affordable way to return his body to the lifestream with dignity is proving just as difficult.

His only income was his social security benefits. Since he died just before the end of November, his most recent payment will have to be returned to SSA, and he has no funds left over to cover the expenses towards his cremation. Being a veteran who died of a non-service related illness, he's eligible for a burial allowance which has a max allowance of around $940. At most funeral homes in the bay area that barely covers half of the cost for a direct cremation, not including an urn. Plus, I'll have to apply for that burial benefit which would come as a reimbursement when I show them the receipts for everything. He's likely eligible for a burial in a national cemetery lot, but the costs for the funeral home still come out-of-pocket for the family (me and my half-brother). Overall, a direct cremation is the best solution for all of us.

Still, it's been hard to put together the $1,500-$2,000 to pay for the cheapest direct cremation in our area. We considered allowing the public administrator and coroners office to do whatever they do, but I imagine that is something like, 1: fold him into a dirty vat with whatever other unidentified bodies and roadkill came in that day, 2: get thrown in a big trash bag, and 3: gets thown into a dump truck or trash barge to be "spread" at sea or in a landfill.

So, that doesn't sit too well with me.

We aren't having any memorial services, due to the financial situation, but also because there aren't a lot of people that he stayed in contact with during this time. Many people have differing opinions of my father, but he was a good man, at heart. He loved wholesome music, happy children, family bonds, good vibes, and adventures. He was the kind of guy who would hunt somebody down with a baseball bat if they hurt someone he loved, and he was naturally honest. If you asked him about someone who he loved, even if they did him wrong, he wouldn't go out of his way to drag their names through the mud. If he believed in someone's character, he wouldn't hesitate to defend their name against anybody at any time.

He was also an engineer in the US Navy for 4 years during Vietnam, earning himself the National Defense Service Medal. He was born in Pittsburgh, PA in 1955 and raised in an honest Irish-Catholic household with 2 older brothers and 3 sisters. He worked as a design engineer at respectable companies, including Varian Medical Systems. Later on, after suffering from a back injury at work, he would go on to start some of his own businesses installing POS systems and the Quality Gutter Co. in Fremont, CA.

I'm hopeful that this page will help me to at least get closer to the $2,000 goal for a proper cremation and urns for me and my brother. If lucky enough, it may even go on to put together something to create some sort of estate, as he had no life insurance and who knows what claims will come during the probate process.

Any amount to help me and my brother add some more closure to the memory of our father will be hugely appreciated. If you happen to be willing to give more in the form of a loan, you can contact me to make arrangements to be paid back a certain amount after the burial benefit is received from the VA. But please make any donations as soon as possible, because I only have until Monday to pay for a funeral home before his body is turned over to the coroner's office. At that point his disposition will be out of our hands, and no remains will be returned to the family.

If you have any other questions, ideas, or condolences, feel free to reach out to me. If I don't respond right away, please understand that this is a busy and painful time, and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

Thank you to any who donate, and to all who took the time to read this. If nothing else, please send a quick prayer to your higher power asking for Tim's soul to find peace and for safe travels on its way to be reunited with those he loved.

-Thomas Patrick Medzius