The late Alexandra Kolb, known as Alex to her friends and family, tragically took her own life in the early hours of Saturday, June 1st. Born in 1973 in Cali, Colombia, Alex moved to the USA in 2004 and married Bernard Abtan in 2006. Although their marriage ended after a few years, they remained close friends until her untimely death.
Bernard Abtan, Alex’s ex-husband and friend, is organizing a fundraiser to honor her final wishes and celebrate her life. Alex had expressed a desire for cremation and a celebration of life, but there are no funds available in her estate to fulfill these wishes. Bernard has taken on the role of executor of her estate and is now raising money to cover the funeral expenses, which have been quoted between $10,000 to $12,000.
The fundraiser, titled "Support Alex’s Memorial and Celebration," has so far raised $2,200 of its $12,000 goal, with three donations from Virginia Donofrio, an anonymous donor, and Bernard himself. Bernard aims to hold a modest cremation and a celebration of life event on Sunday, June 16th, and is appealing to the community for support to meet the financial deadline by Friday, June 8th.
Bernard expresses deep sorrow over Alex’s death, noting the profound impact she had on those who knew her. He also laments that Alex will never have the chance to be an "aunt" to his infant son, a role she was eagerly anticipating. Despite the heartbreak, Bernard is committed to ensuring that Alex’s friends and family have the opportunity to celebrate her life and find some closure.
The community’s response to the fundraiser has been encouraging, but more support is needed to meet the goal. Any additional funds raised beyond the target will be donated to a suicide prevention program, a cause that aligns with the tragic circumstances of Alex’s passing.
With love and gratitude, Bernard continues to seek donations to honor Alex’s memory and help those grieving her loss.
Note:This post was written and edited by Amelia Clark, based on their expertise and research. It is intended for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. We welcome your feedback and questions on this content. Please feel free to contact us.