Support Erika & Jesus
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Family isn’t always about blood relations. It’s about people who love and care without condition. Without any expectation of love or money in return. That’s the story of Erika Rojas & Jesus Mendoza and Bob & Eleanor.
Erika cared for Eleanor and Bob for more than 20 years, when no one else – rarely did their four grown children come and visit. One time, when the doctor told Bob he didn't have much longer to live, Erika asked him what she could do for him. He answered that he wanted a party! Erika quickly contacted the neighbors, hired a mariachi band (Bob loved mariachis) and while he lay in his bed set up in the living room, we all celebrated life with him.
If there ever has been a time to stand up for what is right, to fight injustice, to help those in need, now is that time. We, their neighbors, are starting a fund to help these two wonderful human beings move forward in their lives.
Their story begins when Erika was hired to help Bob with his ailing wife, Eleanor, some 20 years ago. Bob’s health wasn’t too much better and over the years both Erika and her husband, Jesus, offered countless hours of help well beyond the requirements of her employment. As a welder, Jesus had full-time commitments of his own, but the younger couple began to see Bob and Eleanor as more than employers, more than just people. They became another set of parents, each couple sharing the good times and the tearful moments that glue families together.
Unfortunately, Eleanor passed on and more than ever, Jesus and Erika sought to make sure Bob was fully looked after, even accepting his invitation to move into Bob’s home. They were truly “family” and even when Jesus was hard at work and Erika was hit with a debilitating case of the flu, she made sure Bob felt loved as much as any daughter loved her father. As a neighbor, I saw this on a regular basis and it was heartwarming to see complete strangers bond so warmly and so completely.
Well, Bob eventually passed too, and the sadness was palpable in that house. Erika was distraught at his loss, he was like a father to her. Very shortly after his passing, the daughters showed up and informed them they had to move out immediately. There was hardly time to share a story about Bob and Eleanor and to say a tearful prayer for them. But Jesus and Erika knew it was no longer their home now. Or, was it?
Turns out, as his way of giving thanks, he bequeathed Erika 1/5 of the house’s value. He set up a trust and stipulated Jesus and Erika could live there as long as there was money in the trust to pay for necessary house repairs and the like. Jesus and Erika were ecstatic. However, the daughters claimed the house fund was depleted so that elation was short lived. A lengthy court battle ensued and after over a year, with neighbors writing letters to the judge attesting to how well she had cared for Bob, an arbitration judge ruled in favor of the children and not only do Jesus and Erika have to vacate immediately, they now face the shock of having to pay the kids’ legal fees…a total of $122,000! Currently, they are awaiting the judges' order on a date to vacate, which could be any day.
We have since been led to believe the judge never read the letters thoughtfully written and sent on Jesus and Erika’s behalf. We neighbors know the love and care Erika and Jesus had for this couple We saw the care they provided. We're seeking to raise funds to cover the attorney fees, living expenses until they can both begin working again, and to help to relocate Jesus, Erika and their three pups (it's not easy to find an affordable home with three dogs, but those are their babies and where Erika and Jesus go, so do the pups). Like so many others, they are out of work due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Can we ask you to please help? Thank you so much.
Erika cared for Eleanor and Bob for more than 20 years, when no one else – rarely did their four grown children come and visit. One time, when the doctor told Bob he didn't have much longer to live, Erika asked him what she could do for him. He answered that he wanted a party! Erika quickly contacted the neighbors, hired a mariachi band (Bob loved mariachis) and while he lay in his bed set up in the living room, we all celebrated life with him.
If there ever has been a time to stand up for what is right, to fight injustice, to help those in need, now is that time. We, their neighbors, are starting a fund to help these two wonderful human beings move forward in their lives.
Their story begins when Erika was hired to help Bob with his ailing wife, Eleanor, some 20 years ago. Bob’s health wasn’t too much better and over the years both Erika and her husband, Jesus, offered countless hours of help well beyond the requirements of her employment. As a welder, Jesus had full-time commitments of his own, but the younger couple began to see Bob and Eleanor as more than employers, more than just people. They became another set of parents, each couple sharing the good times and the tearful moments that glue families together.
Unfortunately, Eleanor passed on and more than ever, Jesus and Erika sought to make sure Bob was fully looked after, even accepting his invitation to move into Bob’s home. They were truly “family” and even when Jesus was hard at work and Erika was hit with a debilitating case of the flu, she made sure Bob felt loved as much as any daughter loved her father. As a neighbor, I saw this on a regular basis and it was heartwarming to see complete strangers bond so warmly and so completely.
Well, Bob eventually passed too, and the sadness was palpable in that house. Erika was distraught at his loss, he was like a father to her. Very shortly after his passing, the daughters showed up and informed them they had to move out immediately. There was hardly time to share a story about Bob and Eleanor and to say a tearful prayer for them. But Jesus and Erika knew it was no longer their home now. Or, was it?
Turns out, as his way of giving thanks, he bequeathed Erika 1/5 of the house’s value. He set up a trust and stipulated Jesus and Erika could live there as long as there was money in the trust to pay for necessary house repairs and the like. Jesus and Erika were ecstatic. However, the daughters claimed the house fund was depleted so that elation was short lived. A lengthy court battle ensued and after over a year, with neighbors writing letters to the judge attesting to how well she had cared for Bob, an arbitration judge ruled in favor of the children and not only do Jesus and Erika have to vacate immediately, they now face the shock of having to pay the kids’ legal fees…a total of $122,000! Currently, they are awaiting the judges' order on a date to vacate, which could be any day.
We have since been led to believe the judge never read the letters thoughtfully written and sent on Jesus and Erika’s behalf. We neighbors know the love and care Erika and Jesus had for this couple We saw the care they provided. We're seeking to raise funds to cover the attorney fees, living expenses until they can both begin working again, and to help to relocate Jesus, Erika and their three pups (it's not easy to find an affordable home with three dogs, but those are their babies and where Erika and Jesus go, so do the pups). Like so many others, they are out of work due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Can we ask you to please help? Thank you so much.
Organizer and beneficiary
Diana Zdenek
Organizer
Orange, CA
Erika Rojas
Beneficiary