One Staten Island family turns a tragic loss into a positive mission. NY1's Jessica Fragoso spoke with the Reali family and filed the following report.

Lola Reali wears a pendant with a picture of her beloved husband Frankie close to her heart. He died nearly a year ago of a heart attack at the age of 36.

"You never know when you're going to go, and you don't get the time to spend with that person to let him know how much you love him," said Reali.

Frankie was an independent contractor working as a real estate agent and supporting his wife and five kids. When he died, he had no life insurance.

"He said 'ma, come on give me a break, you know, I have to spend that kind of money on life insurance? There's nothing wrong with me. I'm ok.' He said 'you know what, get it for me for my 40th birthday,'" said Fran Reali, Frankie's mother.

But Frankie never made it to his 40th birthday. The family is now on a mission to help others realize the benefits of life insurance through a non-profit organization they created in Frankie's name called the Frank J. Reali III Family Foundation.

"I have spoken to so many people in their 30s, in their 40s, in their 50s who do not have life insurance," said Fran Reali.

Through the foundation, the Reali family also hopes to save many lives by raising awareness about the importance of getting one's heart checked at a young age.

"By getting the children before they start high school sports to get an echocardiogram and we can help pay for that or set a new protocol or at least raise the bar of recognition for that, his death would not have been in vain," Fran said.

The Realis are raising money for scholarships for Frankie's children along with other children of deceased independent contractors. They will be hosting their first annual memorial dinner on June 9th.

For more information on the foundation, call 1-718-420-2331.

- Jessica Fragoso