Let's Help Jess With Memorial Cost

Dana Zaker unexpectedly passed away Wednesday night in her sleep. She was one of the kindest, friendliest, and most compassionate people I have ever met. Her aspirations were always grounded in her desire to help others; from her long career in nursing to her recent studies in Social Work she was always finding new avenues to help people from all walks of life. Dana never met a stranger (as I'm sure many can attest to) and went above and beyond to make everyone feel like family. Above all, Dana loved her daughter Jessica- they were like two peas in a pod; whether it was home improvement tasks or struggling through Spanish class together, they found comfort and fun in each other's company.

Jessica has all of the gifts of her mother, a living memory of the kind nature, compassion, and hospitality Dana was so well known and loved for. Jess is always there to help, no matter how mundane or difficult the task may be. She is and always will be one of the best friends I have ever had the pleasure of knowing and it was a joy to see her and her mother together, so similar in mannerisms and always with a fantastic story prepped and ready. Dana very clearly was incredibly proud of this strong, highly capable and intelligent woman she raised.

Jess and I were having a conversation the other night about how insanely expensive funeral and memorial arrangements are and she revealed that the burden of the cost has fallen entirely on her. Dana did not have a large family and Jessica is her only child. I have seen the toll this has taken on Jess and while she is overwhelmed with support from family and friends, she is also trying to figure out how she can afford the services.  This fund is going directly to her to help alleviate at least a small portion of her stress and the financial burden that sadly comes with loss. If we can all band together, hopefully we can give back in memory of Dana who never hesitated to  offer a helping hand to whomever she crossed paths with.