Donate in memory of Gabriel Goldsmith

On October 25th, my husband Gabe was killed by a drunk driver in an auto accident on his way to work. He was only 43 and had been working as a security guard an hour away since May. Gabe was a decorated army veteran with 3 tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, a proud father to his teen son, and beloved by many friends and family members. While life was not always easy for him, he always held to a life of service; to his country, his family, and those he loved. No matter how rough things got, he always gave of himself to others through time, effort, and spirit. He led a life of care and compassion with a strong belief in justice and a fierce loyalty to those he cared about. Gabe was, in the truest sense of the words, a good man. But, due to the reckless and senseless actions of a repeat offender drunk driver, his life was cut short in an instant. While the driver has been charged with multiple offenses, it could be months or even years before any legal action could come to fruition and with it, any compensation. It will also be some time before the VA or the state of Illinois can process my request for burial and spousal benefits and assistance through their specific programs. As his widow, a title I am still trying to come to terms with, I have been left in the extremely difficult position of soul source of income for our home. While we both worked full time over the last several months, we have been working to pay off multiple debts accrued during long periods of company layoffs and unemployment due to the pandemic. We were just beginning to recover financially and only had one car between us. That car, along with my husband, is now gone. I have exhausted every resource and potential source of financial assistance, and now turn to this platform in the hopes of pulling together enough money to cover the most immediate expenses: to purchase a used vehicle so that I can return to work. Due to the distance and location, a car is necessary for me to travel to and from work. I am not looking for a new car by any means; merely a used vehicle that can get me from home to work and back. I am in talks with friends to assist in finding me a car within the $800- $1500. To assist with the cremation and burial expenses. No one expects to have their life cut short at 43. Even when choosing the less expensive options “direct cremation, no viewings, no services, etc” , the costs are currently standing at almost $3000. My husband did not have life insurance as it became too expensive to maintain during the long stretches of unemployment. This is not a position anyone should be in, but we rarely ever get a choice when tragedies like this happen. So, I am here, humbly asking for your help to bury my husband and acquire a vehicle so that I can keep my job. Thank you for listening and thank you for any help you can give. ❤️ me!