Memorial fund honoring Jennifer’s legacy with compassion

As most of you know, my mother-in-law, Jennifer Dillard (known as Lolly to her grandchildren), passed away on September 15th, very unexpectedly. Just three weeks prior, she received a cancer diagnosis, and her health declined rapidly, not even having time to see an oncologist to determine how aggressive or what type of cancer this was. All we know is it was stage 4 colon cancer that did metastasize. Her death came as a shock, occurring the day after she was discharged from the hospital after being admitted for roughly 4 days (planning to follow up with oncology), leaving our family in a state of disbelief and grief.

Jennifer has a life insurance policy, but unfortunately, she didn’t have the chance to create a will or designate a beneficiary. This oversight means her affairs will need to go through probate court, a process that can take several months. We are actively seeking an attorney to help us navigate these complexities.

In the wake of this unexpected loss, we faced immediate financial pressures. We had to cover half of Jennifer’s funeral costs—totaling $8,000—with less than 12 hours' notice. We exhausted our savings to ensure she received a proper farewell, but now we find ourselves overwhelmed by the financial burden.

Although Blane and I both work full-time, the sudden loss of our savings has left us struggling to meet our ongoing expenses, and our bills seem to be due all at once. We are kindly asking for donations to help alleviate this financial strain during this difficult time. Any assistance, no matter how small, would be deeply appreciated and would help us navigate the next several months as we honor Jennifer’s memory.

We know that Jennifer believed she had everything in order, but time was not on our side. If you cannot contribute financially, we would be grateful for your prayers and support for our family as we navigate this challenging journey. Thank you for your understanding and compassion.