Nena’s House began in the wake of the unexpected death of Nena Peduzzi in May 2026. Nena was a loving mother of two, building a life with her boys in Campton Hills, Illinois. She was also the kind of person who made everyone feel welcome, connected, and loved. 

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After Nena's unexpected and tragic death, we were devastated and completely unprepared for everything that came next. She didn’t have a will. We didn’t know all of her final wishes. And while trying to grieve, we were also navigating legal and financial matters, funeral arrangements, her home and belongings, and most importantly, how to help support the two boys she left behind. There was no roadmap, so we did the best we could, guided by what we knew about Nena and how deeply we loved her.

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For the first two months, we were also consumed with trying to understand the circumstances surrounding Nena's death. Then, on July 10, 2026, what would have been Nena’s 45th birthday— and the day we buried her ashes—something shifted for her for me, her sister.

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I felt deeply that if I did not do something to shift the focus

from how and why Nena died to how Nena lived, I would be consumed. 

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That’s where Nena’s House was born.

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Within further discussions with my parents and brother we realized the path we had struggled to find for ourselves could become a  clearer path for someone else. Nena’s House turns what we learned through loss into something that can help others: trusted resources, practical support, compassionate guidance, and a community where death and grief can be talked about openly and without taboo. It’s a place to prepare before a loss, find direction when the unimaginable happens,

and receive support in everything that follows.

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 Nena spent her life making comfortable room for those around her.

 Now, the place created in her name can do the same.

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When death leaves you lost, start at Nena’s House.

Where everyone belongs.