Relief Fund For Strauss Family
Donation protected
We are the family of Dave and Ann Strauss - our parents who were brutally murdered and robbed, in their home on Sunday evening, 24 January 2016.
An old pic of mum and dad from 1995
Early newspaper reports:
Zululand Observer
News24
Family Speaks Out - Zululand Observer
CensorBugbear
I am the youngest daughter, and technically "their only child" - a joke they loved to tell at braais to confuse people. Both our folks were married before and bore children to those marriages. They divorced, met each other, and in their early 40's, had me by surprise. Mum always called me "the bridge" between the two families.
"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain" - A quote I found written in dad's little notebook he had next to his chair when the killers attacked.
We are offering a space for people who would like to help by donating to assist us in dealing with this tragedy.
It's disgusting that death costs money, let alone a sickening and senseless attack like this. We are all still in such shock; as I write it's been over a week and I'm still reeling. We have, as a family, been overwhelmed with messages from every-one - of love, support and strength. Thank you so much for being a light in this dark time.
The fact is, the bills are piling up. None of us is well off, and our parents' small estate will take up to a year to settle, so all costs are coming out of our own pockets for now.
We are trying to do as much as possible ourselves to help keep costs down. Some of you have extended wishes to assist us, so this space is where you can do so.
Costs include:
1. Cleaning the house
Our parents lived in a sleepy, rural town called Kwambonambi. Getting professional cleaners to drive from the city just to assess the house is more than we can currently afford (the closest I could find was three hours away - our folks really did live in "the sticks"). We'd love to:
- Have the house professionally cleaned - even replace the carpets if possible to remove the stains; steam clean the tiles to remove stains in the grouting; repaint walls etc. (While in most places, the police cover this, in rural Kwambo, KZN, SA, they do not)
- Our folks loved memories and kept SO much stuff. We have a lot that needs to be let go of now, so lots of clearing from inside the house and removal thereof.
- Tidy up the garden they loved dearly which is slowly getting out of hand, and have the garden refuse removed, as a once off
- Possible monthly garden service to keep tidy
2. Saying Goodbye
We've already had a memorial service for mum and dad, and covered the cost of such ourselves. If we could recoup these it'd be wonderful as we are feeling the pressure. As a secondary *nice to have*, it would be so good to be able to get us all together again to spread mum and dad's ashes in a personal family ceremony. As such:
- Flights for far-away siblings to attend memorial (paid)
- Rental cars for far-away siblings (paid)
- Memorial pamphlets (paid)
- Cremations (paid)
- Printing of photos and purchasing frames and candles (paid)
- Flights for siblings to be reunited for ashes spreading ceremony
- Rental cars for far-away siblings
3. Healing
I'd personally like to offer my siblings, if there were additional funds, some trauma counselling. I cannot express in words how horiffic this entire process has been for all of us. Having to walk through the crime scene - our childhood home - to gather documents requested by the police day after day while trying not to look at the blood stains; painstakingly identifying each stolen item at the police station (a process that took hours and was heartbreaking); and my poor sisters having to identify our dear parents' bodies not once but TWICE. These memories, along with the horrific descriptions of what transpired, will haunt us all forever. Counselling would help us all deal with these issues, but right now affording groceries is more necessary to us. If we had the funds, I'd want to pay for all of us to have at least two trauma counselling sessions. (While in most places, the police cover this, in rural Kwambo, KZN, SA, they do not).
4. Our Childhood Home
Dad and Shaz playing guitar in the garden about 10 years ago.
We'll have to sell our parents' home. It would be nice to have a security company look after the place so it doesn't get stripped while standing empty (not just a worry - a probability in rural KZN). And we'd need to do quite a lot of repairs before it'll be fit to sell.
- Monthly security company cost
- General household repairs and "spruicing", such as a fresh coat of paint, repairing roof tiles, etc.
If you would like to assist the family, and have the resources to do so, we thank you dearly. It would mean a great deal to us to be able to get all the above sorted out, and start to heal from this terrible tragedy.
An old pic of mum and dad from 1995
Early newspaper reports:
Zululand Observer
News24
Family Speaks Out - Zululand Observer
CensorBugbear
I am the youngest daughter, and technically "their only child" - a joke they loved to tell at braais to confuse people. Both our folks were married before and bore children to those marriages. They divorced, met each other, and in their early 40's, had me by surprise. Mum always called me "the bridge" between the two families.
"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain" - A quote I found written in dad's little notebook he had next to his chair when the killers attacked.
We are offering a space for people who would like to help by donating to assist us in dealing with this tragedy.
It's disgusting that death costs money, let alone a sickening and senseless attack like this. We are all still in such shock; as I write it's been over a week and I'm still reeling. We have, as a family, been overwhelmed with messages from every-one - of love, support and strength. Thank you so much for being a light in this dark time.
The fact is, the bills are piling up. None of us is well off, and our parents' small estate will take up to a year to settle, so all costs are coming out of our own pockets for now.
We are trying to do as much as possible ourselves to help keep costs down. Some of you have extended wishes to assist us, so this space is where you can do so.
Costs include:
1. Cleaning the house
Our parents lived in a sleepy, rural town called Kwambonambi. Getting professional cleaners to drive from the city just to assess the house is more than we can currently afford (the closest I could find was three hours away - our folks really did live in "the sticks"). We'd love to:
- Have the house professionally cleaned - even replace the carpets if possible to remove the stains; steam clean the tiles to remove stains in the grouting; repaint walls etc. (While in most places, the police cover this, in rural Kwambo, KZN, SA, they do not)
- Our folks loved memories and kept SO much stuff. We have a lot that needs to be let go of now, so lots of clearing from inside the house and removal thereof.
- Tidy up the garden they loved dearly which is slowly getting out of hand, and have the garden refuse removed, as a once off
- Possible monthly garden service to keep tidy
2. Saying Goodbye
We've already had a memorial service for mum and dad, and covered the cost of such ourselves. If we could recoup these it'd be wonderful as we are feeling the pressure. As a secondary *nice to have*, it would be so good to be able to get us all together again to spread mum and dad's ashes in a personal family ceremony. As such:
- Flights for far-away siblings to attend memorial (paid)
- Rental cars for far-away siblings (paid)
- Memorial pamphlets (paid)
- Cremations (paid)
- Printing of photos and purchasing frames and candles (paid)
- Flights for siblings to be reunited for ashes spreading ceremony
- Rental cars for far-away siblings
3. Healing
I'd personally like to offer my siblings, if there were additional funds, some trauma counselling. I cannot express in words how horiffic this entire process has been for all of us. Having to walk through the crime scene - our childhood home - to gather documents requested by the police day after day while trying not to look at the blood stains; painstakingly identifying each stolen item at the police station (a process that took hours and was heartbreaking); and my poor sisters having to identify our dear parents' bodies not once but TWICE. These memories, along with the horrific descriptions of what transpired, will haunt us all forever. Counselling would help us all deal with these issues, but right now affording groceries is more necessary to us. If we had the funds, I'd want to pay for all of us to have at least two trauma counselling sessions. (While in most places, the police cover this, in rural Kwambo, KZN, SA, they do not).
4. Our Childhood Home
Dad and Shaz playing guitar in the garden about 10 years ago.
We'll have to sell our parents' home. It would be nice to have a security company look after the place so it doesn't get stripped while standing empty (not just a worry - a probability in rural KZN). And we'd need to do quite a lot of repairs before it'll be fit to sell.
- Monthly security company cost
- General household repairs and "spruicing", such as a fresh coat of paint, repairing roof tiles, etc.
If you would like to assist the family, and have the resources to do so, we thank you dearly. It would mean a great deal to us to be able to get all the above sorted out, and start to heal from this terrible tragedy.
Organizer and beneficiary
Shaz Strauss
Organizer
Boston, MA
Kathryn Amaral
Beneficiary
