In the span of six months, Marion Teatro lost both of her sons.
Jamie died on April 17th and Jeff died in a car accident on October 16th.
Before passing, Jeff was doing renovation work on his mom’s house to make sure it would be able to handle the winter. Family friend Toni Cooper says Jeff’s best friend Avery is helping finish the project. “There is still quite a bit of work to do, so I’m glad Avery is helping,” Cooper says.
Marion was Natasha Coumbs Aunt, and – as Cooper puts it – “like a second mother” to her. The two of them got together and created a GoFundMe to help with the cost of the continuing renovation work and to make sure Teatro has enough to pay the bills this winter.
“One thing that’s helping her get through this is the GoFundMe,” Coumbs says. She says that Teatro has been so giving to others in the community, Coumbs hopes that people return the favour in her time of need.
A goal of $10,000 has been set for the fundraiser, and as of Friday afternoon $6,625 has been raised thanks to 82 donators.
“I check the GoFundMe page every morning and every time I cry,” Cooper tells the MyHaliburtonNow.com newsroom. “Not out of sadness, I cry in happiness seeing all these people coming together.”
Cooper has been close to the family since she was 14. She dated Teatro’s son Jeff for five years and despite breaking up many years ago, remained close with the two brothers and their mom. “Marion is like a second mom to me,” she says. “I call her momma.” Cooper says that Teatro even cuts her hair.
Coumbs and Cooper say they will do whatever they can to help Teatro through this. “We’re so thankful,” Coumbs says of the people that have donated so far.
The two are looking to set-up an auction to further benefit Teatro. Cooper says it will be done through Facebook, but the details haven’t been worked out just yet. She says it will be done in the “next few weeks.”
In the meantime, Coumbs says they are putting together a list of everyone that has donated so far for Teatro. “She wants to thank each and every person personally,” she says.
The GoFundMe page is still active if you want to donate to Teatro.