Our family is asking for help during the most difficult season of our lives.
On July 16, 2026, we said goodbye to our beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend, Peter Crossley. While no amount of preparation can truly prepare you for losing someone you love, nothing could have prepared us for the moment we had to say goodbye.
As we stood in the hospital hallway, we watched the doctors and nurses do everything they could to save our dad. Round after round of epinephrine was administered. Chest compressions continued as everyone fought for just one more heartbeat. As we watched each chest compression with tears filling our eyes, the next words from the doctor will forever be engraved in our minds – “I’m sorry. There is no detectable oxygen in his body, and his heart has completely stopped”. In that moment, the only emotions we felt were numbness and overwhelming grief. Our dad was gone.
But for our mom, another reality immediately came crashing in alongside her heartbreak. As she mourned our dad, her mind also turned to the financial responsibilities she now had to face alone. Once again, she felt she had to become the family’s financial superhero.
For more than 40 years, our dad fought health battle after health battle with incredible strength and determination. He endured multiple strokes, brain surgery, brain shunt placement, prostate cancer, dementia, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), and countless hospitalizations and medical complications. Through every challenge, he never gave up. He fought with courage until his body simply could not fight anymore.
Unfortunately, despite planning as best as we could, our dad passed away before his life insurance policy could reach its full benefit in November 2026. Because of his unexpected passing, the policy will not provide the full amount our parents had planned on to cover his final expenses.
In addition to this unexpected financial shortfall, our mom is now left facing outstanding medical expenses from the many hospital stays, surgeries, treatments, and specialized care, our Dad required over the years.
While our dad carried the weight of his health battles, our mom carried the weight of not only caring for him, but for being the financial provider for our family. She advocated for him, loved him unconditionally, spent endless days and nights at his bedside, managed appointments, medications, and difficult decisions, all while trying to keep our family afloat. She never complained. She simply showed her heart and unwavering love.
As we are faced with grief and uncertainty, we are asking for help from our family and friends. If you know our mom, you know she has always been the sweetest, most helpful person offering encouragement, support, or simply opening her heart to someone in need. Today, we are asking that same kindness and support be shown to our mom.
We often hear the saying that God gives His toughest battles to His strongest soldiers, and if there is anyone who embodies that, it is our mom. Throughout her life she has endured battle after battle, heartbreak after heartbreak, and loss after loss with unwavering faith, resilience, and grace. Every challenge has only made her stronger.
But even the strongest soldiers deserve someone to help carry the weight.
Now is our opportunity to stand beside her the way she has stood beside so many others. We want to take this burden off her shoulders so she can focus on healing, grieving, and finding peace instead of worrying about financial obligations.
Our goal is simple: to allow her to grieve without carrying the crushing weight of financial stress. We want to give her the space to mourn our dad whom she has known, loved, and cared for over 45 years, without worrying about how she will pay for his memorial, manage the medical bills left behind, or navigate the financial challenges that follow his passing.
Every donation, no matter the amount, will go toward:
Memorial and funeral expenses not fully covered by our Dad’s life insurance
Outstanding medical bills from our Dad’s extensive healthcare journey
Helping relieve the immediate financial burden placed on our mom during this unimaginable time
If you are unable to donate, we completely understand. We ask that you please keep our family in your prayers and share this fundraiser with others.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for every prayer, every donation, every share, every phone call, and every act of kindness. Your love and support means more than words can express.
Most of all, thank you for helping us do something our dad would have wanted more than anything—to take care of our mom, just as she spent so many years taking care of him.
With love and gratitude,
Shawnie, Shannon, and Phyllis
