Helping ease a financial worry
Fundraiser underway to help grant Windsor woman’s dying wish
WiNdSor
A Hammonds Plains resident is determined to see her friend’s dying wish be granted.
Inspired by her friend’s strength and grace, Joanne Boone has launched an online fundraiser in hopes of helping her former sister-in-law, Darlene Bigney Boone, get her affairs in order before she enters into palliative care.
“I can’t imagine the stress that she’s going through, knowing that she’s soon going to be saying goodbye to her three children,” said Boone.
To help ease that stress, Boone launched a Go Fund Me page to help pay for the pending funeral arrangements.
“Her biggest wish was to be able to obtain a plot at the Gates of Heaven Cemetery in Lower Sackville. Her reason for wanting to be buried there is because she had two babies that were buried there,” said Boone.
The cost is upwards of $7,000$8,000.
Raising the necessary funds is extremely important to Boone.
“I couldn’t imagine having to make that decision – where you’re going to be buried – and then not being sure if you can afford it,” said Boone. “It’s the financial strain that’s the biggest obstacle.”
Bigney Boone, who doesn’t have life insurance, was diagnosed with stomach cancer about two years ago. Although she underwent chemotherapy, it didn’t shrink the tumours or cure her of the disease. But it did buy the 53-year-old single mother more time with her children, Boone said.
Boone says her friend has shown incredible fortitude since her health problems arose.
“What really impresses me about her is she’s so positive,” said Boone. “Everything that’s been thrown at her, she’s managed to work her way through
it – sometimes it’s the physical pain that she’s going through or the mental anxiety or strain from knowing what’s next. She always has such a positive outlook.”
Bigney Boone, who still resides in Windsor, is spending as much time as she can with her loved ones, especially her children, Brian, 23, Matthew, 20, and Alyson, 15.
As of Feb. 23, the online fundraiser has reached $1,865. Boone hopes to reach the $7,000 goal as soon as possible.
“It’s so hard to know how much time she has left,” said Boone.