Commemorate Carlos & Katharine on the Rail Trail

“A man whose death revolutionized the lives of those who love him.”

My brother Carlos passed away from kidney cancer in 2014 at just 35 years old. Since his life-changing loss, my family continues to process our grief and create meaningful ways to memorialize him.

The West Boylston Rail Trail has been one of the sacred places where we walk on anniversaries and honor his memory. Since his wish was to be cremated, we do not have a gravesite where we can go and connect with his spirit, so we have created our own special spaces; many of us having altars in our homes as well as sacred places in nature where we connect with him.

“Her absence is like the sky,

spread over everything.”

In December of 2024, my beloved mother Katharine suffered a catastrophic stroke and joined my brother in the spirit world. It’s impossible to put to words here the gravity of this loss. She was our grief warrior, our connection to all and a shining light which gave us fuel when we felt weary. Without her the world is dark. I take great comfort in knowing my brother Carlos held her and guided her to peace and freedom. We go on now, but without them. We honor them in all that we do because it’s all that we can do.

I also find great peace and connection at the rail trail and hold on to the many memories of long family walks there.

My goal is to purchase a memorial bench for Carlos and Katharine on the rail trail, thus providing a marked memorial where we can gather and commemorate them.

As a yoga teacher, I will be dedicating all of my classes during the month of May 2025 to this cause. Any donations received during this month will go towards the purchase price of the bench.

As an additional note, this fundraiser will be ongoing until the goal is reached, even if it takes a year! The month of May 2025 will be a special benefit month, but please know that I will continue seeking donations until our goal is reached.