Hi everybody,

My name is Castel Ruiz and I am raising funds for my grandmother's burial and funeral service.

For the past couple of years, she was spending her days in a nursing home as I had no way of taking care of her myself.

During this time, she was suffering from late stage dementia. I was her appointed legal guardian, and the only person in our family able to oversee her care.

Starting in May, a small tumor arose behind her ear. Ever since then, it had grown significantly to a size bigger than my fist. After being admitted into the ICU in September for an infection, they biopsied her mass and diagnosed her with cancer.

At her age (75), in her state, and with her mind, I couldn't see treatment being a reasonable option. She always hated surgery, doctors, and the hospital. She would get stressed having to leave the places she called home.

So I made the extremely difficult decision to leave her alone, and keep her comfortable. I could tell this was her time. I wanted to try everything, do everything I could, but the stress on her mind and body would have been too much.

On the morning of October 18th, 2025, I got the call. She went comfortably and peacefully, around 5 minutes after her final rites were given by a priest.

My grandmother raised me as my mother, since my biological mother was unable to take care of me while I was a child. Until I moved out at 19, it was just me and my grandma. It was difficult for her, she was an immigrant from the Dominican Republic living off of what she could to take care of me. But she did her damn best.

My grandmother was a kind, loving person. She liked making people laugh, and she liked making people smile. She showed me selflessness when she would give what little money she had to the homeless, or give strangers rides home from the pouring rain.

She showed me strength when she taught me to take shit from no one.

She showed me love when I cried. She would hold me and kiss my head, and sing to me in Spanish.

She sould heal my wounds when I got hurt, put Vapor rub on my chest when I was sick.

She would pray for me and cry when I was in pain.

I wouldn't be the person I am today without Xiomara Ruiz, and I know a lot of people would say the same. She was beloved by many on our street. She cared about people and wanted everybody safe. People would call her "Mama" because they didn't know how to pronounce her name. She would always say it was pronounced like "See You Tomorrow" and that would get a laugh out of people.

She was kooky, always dancing or singing random songs, even in the nursing home. She never forgot herself, even to the very end of her life.

I love my grandma. And she would have loved you, because she was just that sweet. She would hold your hand and pray for you earnestly, because she wished for your health and safety.

I don't have much to my name, but I have my words and my memories of her. And I will carry those forever.

The money I'm raising is going to her burial and service. She wanted to be buried with her mother, so I am doing my best to honor her wishes.

If you do not have anything to give financially, please consider sharing. Especially if you remember my grandmother and have any memories of her. If you remember her, know someone who did, or just want to pay your respects, please consider donating. It would help extremely in this very difficult time for me and my family.

Thank you.