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GoFundMe page reaches goal after West Springfield woman is found dead in Forest Park
Local News
A GoFundMe page created to pay for memorial services for Joann Garelli has reached its fundraising goal in one week.
A GoFundMe page has raised more than $5,000 to assist with memorial service costs for a West Springfield woman who was found dead earlier this month in Springfield’s Forest Park.
Joann Garelli, 56, was found dead Jan. 7 in the Camp Star Angelina area of Forest Park, according to a Facebook post from Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni.
Garelli’s death is currently under investigation by the Hampden District Attorney’s Office and the Springfield Police Detective Bureau’s Homicide Unit.
Andrew Santiago created the GoFundMe page to help his wife, Elizabeth Herd, pay for her mother’s memorial service, according to the page. On the page, Santiago called for an end to violence against women.
“[T]he violence and abuse of women are not taken seriously and we all need to come together as one to help prevent these attacks on women!” Santiago wrote.
The page was created Jan. 9 and will remain open until Garelli’s memorial service, which is scheduled to be held Jan. 21.