Elderly woman to sell everything she owns to keep a promise

Judging from the flag on the coffin he was a veteran. If he was honorably discharged he almost certainly qualifies for VA burial expenses. She should find his DD214 and visit a VA office. It is negligence on the funeral homes part if they did not make her aware of this. I still think it is great that the community has stepped in to help.

i hope she gets enough money so she can have someone take care of her i think its her time.   :) 

My husband and I as well as our friend donated.

Amazing outpouring of help :)

KOMO viewers are the best!

So touching that so many people reached out and helped. We have an amazing bunch of folks who helped. Tissue please, tears flowed to see Elsie's happiness that she could give her husband the going away that he asked for. Really happy for her. :-)

Sorry for double post but here the update some of you already found it im guessing ;).

Generous KOMO viewers step up to help Arlington widow | Local & Regional | Seattle News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News | KOMO News

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Generous-KOMO-viewers-step-up-to-help-Arlington-widow-191774361.html

It has been a long day of great surprises and serious decisions regarding Joe and Elsie Smith. First, I'd like to say THANK YOU to the many that came together to help Elsie keep her promise to Joe. It warms my heart that so many have given. Elsie and I are so grateful to God, to Komo 4, and to the viewers for their loving support. A big thank you also to Bauer Funeral Chapel for your assistance with Joe's arrangements. I know a few of you have contacted me personally or called the care center to donate for Joe and/or Elsie's final plans. Please go through the problem solvers link for donations. At this time, this is the best way to ensure it reaches Elsie without consequence. We are so grateful for the help, and yet so many loved ones are cremated solely based on a lack of income, with no one to help and no where to turn. It makes me sad to think of the many others out there. I wish there was a fund that could help people on a fixed income, past a certain age, and with no family able to help. Something to ponder. God bless you all from the bottom of my heart. 

I believe there will be a follow up on the 11pm news tonight. Thank you all again. - Jessica

Those who wish may go to this link to leave your condolences to Mrs. Smith. Please if you can only leave ugly or rude remarks please refrain from using this link. This is a guestbook page provided by the Bauer Funeral Home and not a place to be insensitive. God Bless Mrs. Smith and those who donated to help her.

http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Joseph-Smith&lc=7553&pid=163162252&mid=5427595&locale=en-US

It has been a long day of great surprises and serious decisions regarding Joe and Elsie Smith. First, I'd like to say THANK YOU to the many that came together to help Elsie keep her promise to Joe. It warms my heart that so many have given. Elsie and I are so grateful to God, to Komo 4, and to the viewers for their loving support. So many loved ones are cremated solely based on a lack of income, with no one to help and no where to turn. It makes me sad to think of the many others out there. I wish there was a fund that could help people on a fixed income, past a certain age, and with no family able to help. No loved one should have to be cremated due to lack of funds. Something to ponder. God bless you all from the bottom of my heart.

I thought Komo was giving an update today on this? I can't find anything on this site.

Here at Bauer Funeral Chapel, our collective hearts go out to Mrs. Elsie Smith and the unfortunate situation she finds herself in with the loss of her husband Joe.  We know how firsthand how painful and difficult the loss of a loved one can be.  It is our honor and privilege to be able to serve families like hers in our smaller communities.  We greatly appreciate the outpouring of support and compassion shown towards Mrs. Smith from across the country, and were unaware of the hardship of her situation until your story aired.  We will therefore be donating a large portion of our charges as well, in an effort to give Mrs. Smith as much peace-of-mind as we can, and rest assured that we will carry out the wishes of her loving husband by helping her with a proper, dignified burial service.  In coordination with KOMO, donations from the public may be made directly to the "Problem Solvers Fund" link at the end of Mr. Johnson's story.

With great respect,

--Pete Cameron, Manager of Bauer Funeral Chapel, Snohomish

It would be great to hear an up date on how Elsie is doing....

I just called the Bauer Funeral Home (360) 568-4126 and am waiting for a return call to find out how they will take a donation on behalf of this wonderful woman.  I want to make sure she gets the money she needs to keep her promise...and I want HER to get this money, not a foundation which may or may not give this money to her.  I'm sorry for being cynical about a foundation but in this day and age, you have to be.  In my experience, too many of the "charitable" organizations are only charitable to their executive officers. 

any update on this?  How much money has been raised for this women?  I sent in $25, what I could.  Would love to know komo

I would love to know where donations can be sent!

Does anyone know the funeral home that is taking care of the arrangements for her husband. Perhaps we could provide donations directly to the funeral home to ensure that she will be taken care of and placed next to her husband.

Where is the sale?

Elsie, reminds me of my mom who was 91 when she passed. I miss her everyday!!

My dog Bella,is a therapy dog, we would love to visit this lovely woman. Bella can make anyone feel better. We would love to be her friend. How can we meet her & tell her she is not alone?

I can't find the link at the end of the article and I'd like to donate, could someone post the link please? I will share the link on my fb wall as well

When my father died 2 year ago ny mom had a 10K life policy on him.  At todays prices covering  the burail site, casket services, transportation, flowers, misc mortuary expenses can only put a dent at 10K.  

My brother being a Veteran  called Veteran Affairs, and explained everything to him.  They offered burail at a Veteran Cemetary near the city she lived in, services that included the flag draped and folded, gun salute, and a white head stone with his name and military statues. 

They also said when my mom died she would share the same burial site of my dad and on the other side of the head stone would be her name an etc. Also she is recieving a small pension that all spouses and children under 18 are entitled to, the catch is you have to ask for it, it not always offered as public information.  

The 10K policy paid for his and her caskets, transportion, funeral expenses, not to mention the peace of mind knowing her affairs regarding death were paid for when her time comes.  The major expenses covered by the Veterans, was  a Blessing.

I am happy to contribute to this sweet and beautiful woman.  A promise is a promise and I have nothing but respect for Mrs. Smith.  May God bless each and every one of you who has helped this incredible woman.

I just wanted to take the time for everyone that has donated to this elderly woman. Kindess and thoughtfulness is what this country was founded on. If you THE IGNORANT PEOPLE HAVE NOTHING NICE TO SAY THEN KEEP YOU MOUTH SHUT. No one at a time like this in there life needs more negative thrown there way. For all those who have nothing nice to say, I hope at a hard time in your Life that none comes to your aid. 

Thanks again for all who helped. May GOD bless you and your family in 10 fold.

Happy to send her a small gift via Problem Solvers and grateful to have the means to share, even if it is a small amount. If 350 people give $10 then Mrs. Smith will have enough for her beloved Joe and a bit in her bank account. So glad KOMO posted the donation means at the bottom of the article- needed to give to someone today.

Any updates on how much money was donated?

This is so wrong!  I am a lic'd funeral director and embalmer and this is one of the reasons that I choose not to work for anyone.  Yes, a good number of funeral providers are financially motivated.  Yes, the employees must tow the financial line and this puts the already vulnerable survivors at more risk.   I would humbly suggest the following:    try a family owned funeral home...not always better but tend to be less predatory.   Speak to your clergy and ask their opinion...sometimes they are also bought and paid for by the funeral homes but not so likely. Pull a hospital chaplain off to the side and ask their opinion.  Check and recheck what your faith and culture require...even the most ardent of liturgical churches are now seeing their way to allow other than traditional services due to funeral sales.  I am exceptionally sorry that this is happening to the dear lady esp at this time.   Ask for you familys help with thi$.  

How does something as simple as helping another human being turn into a debate?

Put up or shut up. 

There's enough spin-off negativity in this world without ginning up some more because you can.

Thanks to all who helped.

And thanks to Nordach for providing contrast between those of us naive enough and able enough to care and  needless cynicism that just makes life more hard than it needs be.  Nordach reminds me of a Bob Dylan sentiment. "I wish you could be me for one day to see what a drag it is to be you." 

Funeral Homes are nothing but money grubbing pests.  It is so expensive to die.  Where are those dam politicians who enjoy regulating everything including our bowel movement yet this is one industry they have not.  Many people do not have the money to bury their love ones.  I recall an article in a California Newspapers stating many are not claiming their relatives due to not having any financial so the body is handed over to the state.  This has to stop!!     My parents has passed .  It took $10,000 each to bury them and that was like 14 years ago with my mom and 7 years with my dad.    Still til this day they do not have a marker.  I feel embarrassed because everyone who died after them have their markers except my parents.all they have right now is a small plastic marker.  Very soon we may have to sell our homes just to bury our loved ones.

Can we send condolences to her c/o the station?

Nordach,

you are a POS!  I have spent 27 years of my life defending people like you and you could care less about your fellow humanbbeings.   You have no background on their life story or the issues they may have faced.  I voted for Obama and i donated $50.00 because she did what she had to.  She could have let the state deal with it but instead she decided to sell everything she owns to put him to rest.  I hope you lose everything you hold dear and you better not expect anyone to help you out.  I can afford to help her out and I am proud to do so.  Giving to someone in need is the truest form of caring but it is apparent that you would not know about that.  Someday you will be in need of help and when no one comes to your aid, too bad.  you are a discrace to your family name and the citizens of this country. 

I have contributed and added the following proviso "For the exclusive benefit of Elsie Smith including burial expenses for her husband or for her future general welfare."   In that way, any money above and beyond funeral expenses for her husband will be for her future needs.

 Nordach, 

I feel sorry for this woman.  But, I guarantee they were approached by Lifve Insurance salepeople starting from the early days of their marriage but the chose not to purchase any life insurance giving the agent ridiculous reasons.  Well sweetie you are not in Kansas any more.  You and hubby blew it.  But I am sure some bleeding hearts will contribute to the burial fund thereby taking awau your and hubbies responsibility.  I bet you also voted for Obama.

This has inspired me to pursue my dream of helping others.  I am going to take steps to start a non-profit for the purpose of raising funds to help those in this kind of situation.  I neither have a lot of money or time, but this is what I was meant to do.  Is anyone interested in joining me?  I can do initial leg work, (licensing and such) but will need volunteers with experience.