From Darkness to Light: Fundraising for What Bev Loved Most

Seeing Through the Veil of Darkness:

A Fundraiser in Support of Our Friend Bev Serafica

On Sunday, November 24, 2024, Bev Serafica took her own life, leaving behind her partner Julie Abbott and children, Quentin (13) and Claire (11).

An extremely talented pianist, music teacher, and dog agility competitor (2022 USDAA Grand Prix of Dog Agility National Champion), Bev mentored many in both music and agility, but kept her own mental health struggles very private, and no one really saw this coming. Bev’s many agility friends, her music students, and most especially her partner Julie and children are devastated.

But good can come out of sorrow, and this GoFundMe is a chance to carry Bev’s torch forward in both the agility and music worlds. The money contributed will go to these causes near and dear to Bev’s heart, and to the SerAbbott family she leaves behind...

Our aim is to raise funds in memory of Bev as follows:

$3000 per dog including the monitoring of Pixie’s lymphoma diagnosis and Jedi’s health insurance premiums.

$275 per child/session for 3 months.

Honoring Bev’s love of animals and shelter dog Pixie.

We honor Bev’s love of music and teaching by gifting a music scholarship for aspiring students in need of financial assistance at her alma mater SFCM.

Note:

CELEBRATION OF LIFE

To honor and remember Bev, Bev’s mom has arranged for a funeral mass/celebration of life on Thursday, Dec 12, in San Jose, CA: details here.

Bev’s family, friends, and students are also planning a more casual Celebration of Life this spring, likely in San Jose; please stay tuned. To help with this later Celebration, we’d very much appreciate any pictures, videos, and remembrances you have of Bev, for a slideshow we’ll be putting together. Just click “Contact” on this GoFundMe page to email one of the organizers.

PICS...

VIDEOS...

DETAILS ON OUR FUNDRAISING...

Bev's two agility dogs--terrier-mix Pixie and Belgian Tervuren Jedi--have been at the heart of the SerAbbott family. They will now play an even greater role, providing emotional support and a sense of wellbeing to the family. Their health and longevity will be vital to the kids' and Julie's own mental health. Healthy dogs means agility lessons for Quentin, it means future family outings to look forward to, and it means their main continuing connection with the woman they loved who is gone. Jedi (7) is healthy, but Pixie (13) has been diagnosed with small cell indolent lymphoma (far less aggressive than ordinary lymphoma, but requiring monitoring; it often eventually morphs into regular lymphoma). Vet visits so far plus a medically advised ultrasound amounts to $1500; should the indolent lymphoma activate, Pixie may need chemo, but will definitely require regular veterinary monitoring (about $300/month). We would also like to fund Jedi’s health insurance premiums for two years (Pixie doesn’t have health insurance), a cost of $1500 for a year.

→ We are asking for $3000 for each dog, to cover their veterinary expenses for the next couple of years: $6000 total.

Quentin and Claire loved Bev deeply and are stricken by her unexpected loss. They have both been enrolled in weekly bereavement and trauma counseling, at a cost of $275/child/session (not covered by insurance). Three months of bereavement and trauma counseling cost $7000.

Bev’s love for animals was clear. In 2012 she adopted Pixie–a compact cube of cantankerous canine–from a shelter in San Jose, CA. Just as those who adopt literally save a life, in return, “Who rescued whom?” comes into play, for Pixie led Bev to the sport of dog agility and a group of supportive friends and community. In honor of Bev and now 13 year old Pixie, this GoFundMe will donate to Muttville, a San Francisco based 501 (c) (3) charitable organization which focuses on senior dog rescue. Muttville has found forever homes for thousands of needy dogs since 2007. And, they are a model for other animal rescues introducing the nation’s first “cage-free” facility. They are highly lauded as implementing innovative adoption, fostering and hospice programs, and offering an on-site veterinary suite. We hope to raise $3000 for this charity.

Finally – Bev and music. Bev's passion for music, particularly classical piano, was foundational to her life. As a graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, she not only honed her skills but also dedicated herself to sharing that knowledge with the next generation of musicians. Her love for teaching and the transformative power of music was evident in all she did. This scholarship will continue her legacy, giving aspiring students a chance to study at SFCM, a place she held dear.

Fundraising Team Members

Bev's friend and dog agility instructor with Jedi, at Jump'n Java Agility in Half Moon Bay, California. Anne currently resides in the United Kingdom near Cambridge on a small farm turned animal sanctuary.

A childhood friend of Bev's, Loren was also Bev's colleague and fellow teacher at a private music school in San Jose, CA.

Bev's friend and Jedi's breeder from Haute Volée Tervuren. Derede is a Senior Lecturer in Writing at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Tanya has been a friend of Bev's for over 20 years. They have had many experiences together over the years, and share a love of dogs.

Owner/operator of Half Moon Bay Dog Sports, Ivette is a friend of Bev's and trained Jedi in agility classes.