Erin Smart Bereavement Fund

Join us in supporting Detroit’s Beloved Erin Smart as she grieves the loss of her father Thomas J. Smart, who lost his battle with pancreatic cancer on May 31st, 2023.

Since Tom’s terminal diagnosis in January and subsequent decline in health, Erin, an only child, has made frequent and prolonged visits from Michigan to spend time with her father and mother Marti in Pittsburgh. Erin hopes to spend much of the summer in Pittsburgh with her mother to grieve and help in the transition.

Erin is self-employed, selling vintage clothing, decor, and furniture under the moniker Hitsville Vintage, and since Tom’s diagnosis has been juggling traveling, caretaking, and attempting to run her Detroit-based business from out of state and away from her dedicated customer base. Having moved into a new apartment just one month prior to finding out about her father's condition, she continues to have her usual financial obligations in Detroit such as rent, utilities, insurance, and everyday expenses. Needless to say she has been making a small portion of her usual income over an extended period of time, so now we ask for your help in providing some financial support for our dear friend in her time of need.

A statement from Erin:

"I'm so very grateful that I was able to be by my father's side the past several months, but those months have been the most difficult of my entire life. The extreme stress, burnout, and heartbreak of witnessing my father's condition decline has now shifted to feelings of grief, loss, and vacancy following his passing. I'm hoping to be able to get caught up on my expenses and spend some additional time with my mother this summer so that we might be together to provide mutual support, grieve, and readjust to living without my wonderful father, whom we loved so very much."