Jean Ann McGonigle

Hi, I am writing this today in support of my mother's funeral service. At the end of August, my mother was diagnosed with Stage 4 Small Cell Lung Cancer. Prior to her diagnosis, the cancer had already spread to her liver and throat. After her third round of chemotherapy, CT scans indicated she was terminal by the start of December. On December 22nd, she was put onto oxygen and was mostly unresponsive but still alert. While on hospice care, they thought she could pass over Christmas weekend, but she never stopped fighting and made it through New Year’s. Having made it through the holidays with us one last time, she passed away Monday morning, January 2nd at 9am. She was 52 years young.

Unfortunately, my family is now running into a financial issue with burying her. We didn’t find out until it was too late, that she didn't have an independent life insurance policy. Having worked for the State of NJ for many years, she retired early on disability and only had a policy from the NJ Public Employee’s Retirement System. While this fund should cover some expenses, we do

not yet know the amount, and it will take 3 to 4 months to receive after filing all the right paperwork. The funeral home needs to be paid in full on the day of the service, or they will not bury her.

My mom loved me, my sister, my cousins, and everyone in her life so strongly you could feel it across the room. Loving people is what she did best. Any donations to help provide her the proper service and burial she deserves would be greatly appreciated and mean the world to my family. Thank you for your generous help, I know my mom would do the same for you.