Celebrating the Life of Teresa Sandoval Gómez

The beautiful woman in the picture is Teresa Sandoval Gómez.

She was born in Mexico and later moved to Los Angeles, CA, where she met her husband and raised four children—Leonela, Janet, Elias Jr., and myself, Fernando.

My mom worked minimum-wage jobs throughout her life, always sacrificing her own needs to give us the best life possible. She supported my father endlessly and never rested until all her children were fed and the house was clean. She was the most loving, caring, and selfless mother you could ever imagine.

Teresa had a special love for animals—especially cats. If she could have, she would have taken in every stray dog and cat she saw. Nature brought her so much peace. She loved sitting outside, pointing out birds, butterflies, dragonflies, and squirrels. Even the animated animals at Disneyland filled her with joy.

In recent years, she was diagnosed with a terminal illness known as FTD (Frontotemporal Dementia) combined with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). This cruel disease affected her brain and both her inner and outer muscles, deeply impacting her quality of life.

On April 6th of this year, my mom passed away. She left behind her husband, her children, her grandchildren, her brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, furry grand-pets, and so many friends whose lives she touched with her warmth and kindness.

We are asking for any support you can offer—whether through a donation, sharing this page, or simply keeping our family in your thoughts. Every contribution will go toward covering funeral expenses and helping us give my mom the farewell she deserves.

We also hope to raise awareness about FTD and ALS—diseases that are still not widely understood. We weren’t aware of the signs until it was too late. While some illnesses have no cure, early detection can give families more time together. Time with my mother is something I wish I had more of.

Please take a moment to learn about FTD and ALS and how they are connected to Alzheimer’s and Dementia. If you notice something unusual in a loved one, don’t ignore it—no matter how small or uncomfortable it may seem. See a doctor. Ask questions. Be proactive.

Thank you for reading my mother’s story. Your support, in any form, means the world to us.