Lifting Up a Grieving Family Together

My name is Tamra, and I am creating this for my very dear friend Melissa Mattfield Cole.

We are devastated by the loss of our dear friend Melissa, a light in this world who left us far too soon at just 42 years old. Melissa was diagnosed with lung cancer in January, and she faced this battle with the same strength, bravery, and compassion that she brought to every part of her life. Despite her relentless fight, she tragically lost her battle with cancer. She not only leaves behind grieving parents and family but also close friends, classmates, and coworkers. The loss of her, however, is felt most by her beloved fiancé and best friend of 19 years and their nine beautiful children ranging in ages from 22 all the way down to 3 years old.

Melissa was more than a devoted mother and partner—she was a dedicated nurse, an LPN just two classes shy of becoming the RN she had always dreamed of. When COVID swept through the world, Melissa didn’t hesitate. She worked on the COVID ward in her skilled nursing facility, stepping in when others wouldn’t. Her empathy knew no bounds, and she poured her heart into caring for her patients with a level of kindness that often left her feeling the pain of others as her own.

But Melissa wasn’t just a nurse. She was the kind of person who made you feel seen and cared for the moment you met her. Her laughter filled rooms, her warmth made strangers feel like old friends, and her endless generosity and humor made her the friend you could count on, no matter what.

Now, her fiancé faces the unimaginable task of navigating life as a single parent to their nine grieving children, all while carrying the weight of his own broken heart. We are reaching out to the community to help support this family during their time of immense need. They are facing not only the emotional devastation of losing a mother and partner but also the overwhelming financial burden that comes with it.

Melissa gave so much to everyone around her—now it's our turn to give back. Every donation, no matter the size, will help provide some stability for her family as they begin to navigate this new chapter of their lives without her.

***Please consider donating to honor Melissa’s memory, to lift up this family in their time of sorrow, and to ensure that her legacy of love and care lives on.***