Funeral costs for my dad's sudden passing
Donation protected
This has been one of the hardest weeks of my life.
My dad and I were always very close, even when my parents separated and even when I moved thousands of miles away to the US. My dad was always more of an analog kind of guy and so when he left the house where I grew up in, I couldn't even reach him through pen and paper. This was 2005. Eight years later, I had a very difficult time in college and thanks to my mom, she was able to find a contact number for my dad and we talked for the first time in nearly a decade. What a relief it was to hear his voice. I scraped together what money a college student could find to buy a ticket to Germany and in December 2013 was the first time I had a chance to spend time with my dad since leaving in 2005. My dad was also the type to appear very tough and still completely break down at the sight of me in the airport. So much happened in 8 years without each other. I spent nearly 4 weeks with him, though still not enough time to make up for these lost years.
I then did not have another opportunity to see him until 2018, 5 years later when I was happy and nervous to introduce him to Matt, my then boyfriend. He, not speaking any German, somehow managed to ask my dad, who didn't understand any English, for his blessing. We spent our 3 weeks relishing in our engagement and the time we spent together with my dad in Germany. Our next trip in 2020 was cancelled and the next opportunity we had was 4 long years after our engagement, in May 2022, for our wedding at a small lake in Germany where my dad had lived for the past decade. This was the truest happiest day of my life and I cannot adequately express my gratitude to have walked down the aisle with my dad after all this time and distance apart. Having now started residency with a salary in 2022, we planned another trip to Germany in April 2023 for my dad's 69th birthday, the last time we would see each other. A resident's salary is not enough to have spared us a second trip to Germany in 1 year, so we planned to celebrate my dad's 70th birthday with him in 2024.
I wish I could have known that April 2023 would be the last time I would see my dad and get to hug him and spend time with him. I know he's had heart disease since he was hospitalized for it in February. Of course I didn't find out until April when he told me in person. He had promised to take care of himself, get regular check ups, and take his meds. I trust that he was. When we last spoke on the phone, he'd told me how much better he was feeling and that he was happy to get to see us again next year. Only days later I received the call, that my dad was found lifeless at his home on the Campingplatz. We had been separated by time and space for nearly 20 years and suddenly this distance was to be forever.
Still an ocean away, with the holidays, there will be no chance for funeral arrangements until January when we plan to fly to Germany to bury him. The price just to see him is nearly $1000. The price to give him a burial is nearly 4000€. I humbly ask that if you find it in your heart to want to help that you consider giving your financial support. The opportunity to see him off and for the last time to be in his presence is truly priceless and I am indebted and grateful for any kindness in this time of sorrow.
My dad and I were always very close, even when my parents separated and even when I moved thousands of miles away to the US. My dad was always more of an analog kind of guy and so when he left the house where I grew up in, I couldn't even reach him through pen and paper. This was 2005. Eight years later, I had a very difficult time in college and thanks to my mom, she was able to find a contact number for my dad and we talked for the first time in nearly a decade. What a relief it was to hear his voice. I scraped together what money a college student could find to buy a ticket to Germany and in December 2013 was the first time I had a chance to spend time with my dad since leaving in 2005. My dad was also the type to appear very tough and still completely break down at the sight of me in the airport. So much happened in 8 years without each other. I spent nearly 4 weeks with him, though still not enough time to make up for these lost years.
I then did not have another opportunity to see him until 2018, 5 years later when I was happy and nervous to introduce him to Matt, my then boyfriend. He, not speaking any German, somehow managed to ask my dad, who didn't understand any English, for his blessing. We spent our 3 weeks relishing in our engagement and the time we spent together with my dad in Germany. Our next trip in 2020 was cancelled and the next opportunity we had was 4 long years after our engagement, in May 2022, for our wedding at a small lake in Germany where my dad had lived for the past decade. This was the truest happiest day of my life and I cannot adequately express my gratitude to have walked down the aisle with my dad after all this time and distance apart. Having now started residency with a salary in 2022, we planned another trip to Germany in April 2023 for my dad's 69th birthday, the last time we would see each other. A resident's salary is not enough to have spared us a second trip to Germany in 1 year, so we planned to celebrate my dad's 70th birthday with him in 2024.
I wish I could have known that April 2023 would be the last time I would see my dad and get to hug him and spend time with him. I know he's had heart disease since he was hospitalized for it in February. Of course I didn't find out until April when he told me in person. He had promised to take care of himself, get regular check ups, and take his meds. I trust that he was. When we last spoke on the phone, he'd told me how much better he was feeling and that he was happy to get to see us again next year. Only days later I received the call, that my dad was found lifeless at his home on the Campingplatz. We had been separated by time and space for nearly 20 years and suddenly this distance was to be forever.
Still an ocean away, with the holidays, there will be no chance for funeral arrangements until January when we plan to fly to Germany to bury him. The price just to see him is nearly $1000. The price to give him a burial is nearly 4000€. I humbly ask that if you find it in your heart to want to help that you consider giving your financial support. The opportunity to see him off and for the last time to be in his presence is truly priceless and I am indebted and grateful for any kindness in this time of sorrow.
Fundraising team: Team fundraiser (2)
Nicki Pullmann
Organizer
New York, NY
Matthew Carpio
Team member