She was vibrant. She was selfless. She was always buzzing with more magic than everyone else.

On June 10th, our family suffered a tragic & unexpected loss. My Tia (Aunt) Tina endured open-heart surgery, which was immediately followed by complications. She fought so hard for two weeks, on life support, but the complications kept coming and she ultimately succumbed to everything her body went through during the course of those two weeks in the hospital.

This is the first major loss for our family since the also-unexpected loss of my grandfather. He was only 39 when he tragically passed from heart issues as well, leaving my grandmother, a Portuguese immigrant who barely spoke English, to raise all 5 of her children by herself. Tina was the eldest of her children, the one who made her a mother. My grandmother’s heart is, once again, shattered. So are those of her children, her husband, her siblings & all her nieces & nephews. It’s unbelievable. She was only 59 & so full of life.

Tina & her husband, Jeff, had just purchased their dream home a few years back; it was her paradise. Now, Jeff is left to adjust to a single-income reality, and a home that he has to pay for, alone. And since my Tia’s wishes were to have her ashes spread there in her lovely garden, it is also her resting place that none of us want to lose. While we are all banding together to help, we also ask that our friends, family, and anyone who knew & loved Tina give what they can to help this transition for Jeff, her kids, and any remaining medical costs that are sure to arise.

We will never be the same. An integral piece of our hearts & our family is gone, and the last thing anyone should have to worry about is finances. Giving what you can will be a great help in transitioning to this new reality, helping her husband keep their home, and alleviating the stressors of any leftover medical expenses. Our entire family thanks you for your love, prayers & generosity.

For those inquiring, we will be having a celebration of life in January, when Tina would have been 60, for which more info will follow as we get closer to the date.