Michael F. Politano

We are asking friends, family and strangers to donate to this go fund me effort to help alleviate some of the stress our sister has been forced to endure during the passing of her loving husband Michael Politano. 

Judy Politano was a school teacher in the Bridgeport school system. She would selflessly give of her own time helping underprivileged children learn essential life skills: like reading and writing, cooking, and how to manage a checking account. 

She would even pay out of her own pocket for school supplies and clothing. Every year she would buy an entire Thanksgiving dinner for her students amd prepare it for them, because some of her students never had the opportunity to taste a Thanksgiving turkey.

Her first husband Paul Piccirillo passed away in 1988 and she was left a widow with 2 children at the young age of 38.  She was lucky enough to find love a second time when she met her second husband Michael Politano, who she married in 1993.

5 years ago Michael had back surgery and was never quite able to recover and as a result of the surgery he was unable to work anymore. He was forced to close his store that he ran with her son David.

Michaels recovery was complicated by the onset of Alzheimer's disease. As his health continued to decline from numbness in his legs and arms, suddenly she had to deal with his loss of cognitive functions.

Judy put her life on hold to care for him.

 2 years ago he diagnosed with dementia and despite the difficulties Judy stood by him everyday and took care of him, herself.

This was difficult as she also had to provide a home for her (and his) 3 children, and 3 grand children as well. 

As time went on Michael became bed ridden, unable to speak properly and the only thing he could do reliably was call out her name "Jude".

Last month his hospital bed broke, and she needed a new one, his Hoya lift became inoperable and need a $500.00 repair, not to mention the $1200.00 a month she spent on Nurses to help her transport her invalid husband, ( and wheelchair cars for transportation) to doctors appointments.

She herself needing a knee replacement she continued to put off because she couldn't be away from him during the recovery period.

With the costs of medical bills and no other major income she quickly exhausted her savings and had to make some hard decisions regarding food, utilities, mortgage. They AlLL fell by the wayside as she struggled in silence to provide care for her ailng husband. The house fell into foreclose, her car was repossessed and home fell into disrepair. She applied to HUD for a new mortgage but her home needed over $5000.00 worth of repairs before the new mortgage would be granted.

On July 31,2023 her husband Michael passed away at thier home. We are doing this go fund me page because the cost to bury her husband Michael (a US Army veteran) was $9,000.00 to the Funeral home and the Cemetery (who showed no compassion what so ever) was $11,000.00. 

They offered no payment plans, no funding of any kind and actually told my grieving sister "if we were to bury the deceased and you don't pay us, we have no one to go after because he is already dead". 

So Judy as proud as she was had to borrow the money with a Co signer just so she could lay her husband to rest. 

I ask you if you or a loved one passed away today would anyone have an extra $20,000.00 to cover funeral and burial expenses? 

We should also mention that was without a traditional wake at the funeral home for her husband that was an additional $5,000.00. 

Judy has always helped anyone who needed it, she is a genuinely good hearted caring person and doesn't deserve the difficulties life has thrown at her. 

The day we made Cemetery arrangements she had to pay her Town taxes, another $5,000.00 and despite pleading with the bank and town for an extension due to the death of her husband both requests were denied and the people at HUD actually told her if the taxes weren't paid she would be in default and they would foreclose. 

Nice way to treat a grieving widow. 

3rd

We ask you to donate what you can to help Judy with the $20,000.00 bill thrust upon her simply so she could lay her husband to rest.