A Donation to Honor a Mother's Legacy

“At first I did not appreciate the challenges of Dementia,” says Carmen I. Nitsche of her mother’s diagnosis that, over time, would slowly strip away her abilities, memories and life. “But that wasn’t what took her. She died of COVID while in assisted living.”

This fact weighs heavily on Carmen. She fully understands that her mother’s health was already deteriorating, but the pace and brutality with which the virus took her was both an emotional shock and a stark analogy of the pandemic’s work on society as a whole. “If the pandemic has shown us anything, it is that we need each other,” says Carmen. “The effects of COVID on family and basic survival are devastating, and it is only fair for those who can help others to do so… We have an obligation to each other… That is something my mom would say.”

When it came time to settle her mom’s estate, a legacy gift to Daily Work became the perfect expression to honor a woman who valued the interconnectedness of people. “Daily Work is interesting because it really does provide tools to help people navigate the complexities of work and life,” says Carmen. “I’m thrilled that programing now incorporates computers and connectivity, as we are all so dependent on technology.”

My mom was deeply concerned about the impact of systemic injustice…I’m trying to continue to live that for her. My mother grew up very poor. Education and continuously building new skills to navigate the world was her way of getting out.

~ Carmen

The Carmen D. Nitsche Legacy Gift, combined with contributions from other dedicated supporters, helped launch TECI – the Technology Essentials Core Initiative. This gift seeks to inspire you to join in working against the forces that try to separate and pull us apart. For when we embrace our common humanity and commit to the well being of everyone, women like her mother live on.

Photo: Carmen I. Nitsche (on the right) with her mother Carmen D. Nitsche
Adapted from article by Jenn Hyvonen, Communications Consultant • Daily Work Making Connections newsletter, November 2020 • Reach Jenn at her website