Dear Friends and Family, Our Aunt Susan was a force of nature—a dedicated federal employee, a loyal friend, cherished sister and aunt, and a pillar of our family. But the role she held most sacred was being a Mother. The last 33 years of her life were a testament to her devotion to her daughter, Alyssa. Understanding the Depth of the Transition For Aunt Susan, loving Alyssa meant being her constant protector and guide. She was the silent engine behind Alyssa’s world. A few years ago, she secured a home for Alyssa and her Grandcats making sure they would always have a roof over their heads. Aunt Susan did it all- filed her taxes, paid her bills, navigated insurance, and managed her household—so that Alyssa could focus on her own path. Because Aunt Susan handled 'literally everything,' her passing has left Alyssa not only brokenhearted, but with a daunting learning curve. Tasks that many take for granted feel like mountains when you’re grieving and never had to complete them alone before. Our Mission as Cousins and Trustees As Executors and Successor Trustees, Chanda and I are tasked with the heavy lifting of managing Aunt Susan's estate. We are stepping into 'the gap,' teaching and guiding Alyssa through the 'how-tos' of it all. Our goal is to handle the "business" of Aunt Susan’s legacy and Alyssa’s new life, while Alyssa learns to walk on her own. While we learn how to weave our new roles into the fabric of our busy lives, we need your help to provide a safety net to help Alyssa. By contributing to this page, you are helping us cover the immediate costs of her life—her specific groceries, her home maintenance, and her daily needs—giving us the time to transition her into this new reality. How You Can Help Support Alyssa We are now focusing this GiveInKind page solely on bridging the gap for Alyssa’s immediate needs- providing her with the stability Aunt Susan always provided. Your contributions will go directly toward: 1. Securing Alyssa’s Home: Covering the immediate utilities, insurance, and maintenance for Alyssa’s house while the federal benefit process moves through the necessary channels. 2. Restorative Sanctuary: Funding a professional deep-clean and refresh of Alyssa’s home to remove the physical noise of life so she has a clean and calm space to process the immense weight of losing her mother. 3. Daily Nourishment: Providing gift cards for Alyssa’s specific dietary needs, ensuring she is fueled and cared for on the days when the grief feels too heavy to manage. We are standing in the gap to make sure Aunt Susan’s dream —that Alyssa would always be taken care of —remains a reality. Thank you for being the community that helps us keep that promise. With love and gratitude, Aris & Chanda Susan Franklin’s Nieces & Alyssa’s Big Cousins