Needing help with unexpected funeral costs

In early May this year, our father, John, fell ill unexpectedly. Within a fortnight, he received a devastating diagnosis of terminal pancreatic cancer. His health deteriorated rapidly, and he passed away just five weeks after first developing symptoms, shocking everyone who knew him. Throughout his illness, our mum stayed by his side, caring for him with unwavering love until the very end, only having hospice help for the final 2 weeks. They had been inseparable for 40 years, married for 35.

Dad, aged 74, had only recently retired from his career as a skilled cabinet maker earlier this year. He had been fixing up a campervan, envisioning travels around New Zealand with Mum during their retirement. He had always enjoyed robust health, rarely taking a sick day and was an incredibly hard worker his whole life to provide for his family. His sudden illness caught us completely off guard.

Now, Mum is grappling with the aftermath, trying to piece together a livelihood by taking on odd jobs to make ends meet. She faces the daunting task of covering funeral expenses, managing a mortgage, and handling other bills that exceed her current means, all while overwhelmed by grief and the recent events. Any assistance, no matter how small, would mean a great deal to our family during this incredibly challenging time.