
Jason and Jesse DePonty need our help!
Donation protected
At 47 years young, Christine Dahn was a willful and resilient woman who was driven by strong convictions and a healthy set of core beliefs that never seemed to falter even on her darkest days. Above all else Christine was categorically loyal to her family and was happiest when talking about her boys or spending time with her two young grandchildren.
Life was rarely easy for Christine or her family. Some say the bumpy road her life took started when she lost her father to health complications when she was just 11 years old. Christine became a mom at a young age and without hesitation selflessly repositioned her dreams to ensure her little boy, Corey, did not go without. It wasn’t easy, but she persevered by showering her son with the things money doesn’t buy - nurturing love and protection. Her small family of 2 became 4 when she met Jay, the man that would become her life partner for 22 years and his young son, Tony. Not long afterwards the two created a family that soon grew to 5 when their youngest son, Jesse, joined their world 20 years ago. Jesse was very young when he was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. For years, Christine was the only person that Jesse would openly speak to and interact with regularly. With almost all others Jesse would be around them but would not speak or communicate in any real way. Thankfully with the help of good teachers and diligent parents, Jesse began to slowly communicate with other family members when he was young teen
Without many of the things in life that most people take for granted, Christine and Jay tried hard to do whatever was necessary to ensure their 3 boys had what they needed, but sometimes that meant stumbling along the away and having to make incredibly large sacrifices. There were times that the family was homeless or needed to live in a one room motel – where they both worked – just to be able to provide food, clothing and access to the right form of education for their boys especially Jesse.
Resiliency and fortitude finally paid off when through sheer will and determination Christine and Jay were able to position themselves to purchase a house of their own. Finally, someplace for them to call home where they could plant their roots and focus on providing the best life for their son Jesse who was now the only of their boys still living with them. Things were beginning to look up.
Unfortunately, a few years ago Christine’s health began to decline. At the age of 44 she was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and COPD. While the illness took its toll on Christine, she did what she could to continue to help provide for her family because she knew her income was needed to help ensure they could maintain their home and livelihood. As the condition of Christine’s health got worse, Jay learned his company was being closed and subsequently was laid off, cutting off the income the family primarily relied on. As Jay worked hard to establish a new career that would enable him to continue to provide for his family, Christine did what she could for work because she knew even the little bit of money she was able to bring in would help pay some of the mounting bills.
Then last week just as things were starting to look up from an income perspective for Jay, Christine unexpectedly passed away while home with Jesse. To say the family is devastated is an understatement. They are lost and hurting and Jesse’s life preserver has vanished. For a “normal” person this can cause a lifetime of devastation so imagine what it can do to a young man with ASD who relied so much on his mother’s love and dedication to survive and thrive.
Christine will be forever remembered for her jolly laugh, no BS approach to situations and her genuine gratitude for the little things in life.
Sadly, with mounting medical and household bills and now the added financial burden of the cost of a funeral, Jay and Jesse are at risk of losing their family home. Rarely through all the years and bouts of despair did this little family ask for help or except a handout, and even with the recent downturn in life the strong convictions the family was founded on will not allow them to ask for help. So, we will ask for them.
We know this year has been tough and so many families are struggling like Christine and Jay’s family, but if you have the means to help in any way please do so knowing your donation will not be squandered in the least. It will be used to make sure Christine is laid to rest respectfully, peacefully and lovingly, and if there is anything remaining it will go towards helping Jay and Jesse stay in their home, pay their mounting bills and assist with care for Jesse as they try to figure out what life without Christine will mean for them.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read Christine’s story and thank you for considering helping.
Life was rarely easy for Christine or her family. Some say the bumpy road her life took started when she lost her father to health complications when she was just 11 years old. Christine became a mom at a young age and without hesitation selflessly repositioned her dreams to ensure her little boy, Corey, did not go without. It wasn’t easy, but she persevered by showering her son with the things money doesn’t buy - nurturing love and protection. Her small family of 2 became 4 when she met Jay, the man that would become her life partner for 22 years and his young son, Tony. Not long afterwards the two created a family that soon grew to 5 when their youngest son, Jesse, joined their world 20 years ago. Jesse was very young when he was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. For years, Christine was the only person that Jesse would openly speak to and interact with regularly. With almost all others Jesse would be around them but would not speak or communicate in any real way. Thankfully with the help of good teachers and diligent parents, Jesse began to slowly communicate with other family members when he was young teen
Without many of the things in life that most people take for granted, Christine and Jay tried hard to do whatever was necessary to ensure their 3 boys had what they needed, but sometimes that meant stumbling along the away and having to make incredibly large sacrifices. There were times that the family was homeless or needed to live in a one room motel – where they both worked – just to be able to provide food, clothing and access to the right form of education for their boys especially Jesse.
Resiliency and fortitude finally paid off when through sheer will and determination Christine and Jay were able to position themselves to purchase a house of their own. Finally, someplace for them to call home where they could plant their roots and focus on providing the best life for their son Jesse who was now the only of their boys still living with them. Things were beginning to look up.
Unfortunately, a few years ago Christine’s health began to decline. At the age of 44 she was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and COPD. While the illness took its toll on Christine, she did what she could to continue to help provide for her family because she knew her income was needed to help ensure they could maintain their home and livelihood. As the condition of Christine’s health got worse, Jay learned his company was being closed and subsequently was laid off, cutting off the income the family primarily relied on. As Jay worked hard to establish a new career that would enable him to continue to provide for his family, Christine did what she could for work because she knew even the little bit of money she was able to bring in would help pay some of the mounting bills.
Then last week just as things were starting to look up from an income perspective for Jay, Christine unexpectedly passed away while home with Jesse. To say the family is devastated is an understatement. They are lost and hurting and Jesse’s life preserver has vanished. For a “normal” person this can cause a lifetime of devastation so imagine what it can do to a young man with ASD who relied so much on his mother’s love and dedication to survive and thrive.
Christine will be forever remembered for her jolly laugh, no BS approach to situations and her genuine gratitude for the little things in life.
Sadly, with mounting medical and household bills and now the added financial burden of the cost of a funeral, Jay and Jesse are at risk of losing their family home. Rarely through all the years and bouts of despair did this little family ask for help or except a handout, and even with the recent downturn in life the strong convictions the family was founded on will not allow them to ask for help. So, we will ask for them.
We know this year has been tough and so many families are struggling like Christine and Jay’s family, but if you have the means to help in any way please do so knowing your donation will not be squandered in the least. It will be used to make sure Christine is laid to rest respectfully, peacefully and lovingly, and if there is anything remaining it will go towards helping Jay and Jesse stay in their home, pay their mounting bills and assist with care for Jesse as they try to figure out what life without Christine will mean for them.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read Christine’s story and thank you for considering helping.
Organizer
Marc DePonty
Organizer
Woodbury, MN