Kelemua Mekonnen Tekle (Mother & Grandma)

Hi, my name is Josiah and I am fundraising for the family of one of my closest friends who lost their loving Mother/Grandmother on Feb 1st at 3:37am in Florida due to complications of an autoimmune disease.

She struggled in the ICU where she was diagnosed in October and was released, only to be back in the hospital in December and was intubated a few days later. Because of her weakened immune system, a common pneumonia inflicted irreparable damage to her lungs.

She resided with Daniel (her son in-law) and his wife Minwagash and daughter Haimanot, where she was always cooking amazing Ethiopian dishes, reading and laughing.

This was a surprise and a very difficult time for the entire family as she was healthy and still very active at her age of 63.

I am fundraising, and asking for any support anyone could provide, we have already received donations from the Ethiopian community and her home church but we are far from being able to lay her body to rest back in Ethiopia where her extended family still resides. With each step of the process we are learning the complexities of this situation and paperwork involved. It was her wish to be buried in Addis Ababa, where she was born.

Anything raised above and beyond the needed funds will be donated to Kelemua's home church in Miami Gardens, Miami Menbere Tsehay St. Gabriel Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.

We want to thank everyone ahead of time for anything you could do to support.