On May 2nd, 2026, our family lost the kind of person you don’t come across twice,

Nicola Jillisa Blair Cota.

She was bold, vibrant, and completely herself... unapologetically so. Nicola had a fiery spirit, and a character that kept things real. She wasn’t perfect, and she didn’t pretend to be. But that was part of what made people love her so deeply. She carried a presence you could feel the moment she walked in and a smile that stayed with you long after.

She was stunning, ocean-blue eyes, and contagious smile, but what truly defined Nicola was the passion she carried in everything she did.

Nicola was one of the strongest people many of us have ever known. Not because life was easy for her, but because of how she chose to move through it. She followed her heart, trusted her instincts, and never let anything take away her ability to love, to laugh, and to show up for the people around her. That strength shaped her into the incredible woman we were all lucky enough to know.

Above all else, Nicola’s greatest purpose was being a mother.

To her children, Christian Jr., Alessia and Julian, she was everything and then some. She poured her whole heart into them every single day, in a way that only she could. The love she gave them was constant, fierce, and undeniable. She was present, devoted, and intentional... the kind of mother who gave her children not just what they needed, but who she was, fully and completely.

Even during her battle with cancer, Nicola never stopped being Nicola. She continued to check in on others, to organize, to laugh, and to bring light into heavy moments. Her resilience showed in the way she kept going, the way she kept loving, and the way she refused to let even her hardest days define her.

And if you really knew Nicola, you knew how much she loved to live. She loved her music—Bad Bunny on repeat—she could dance bachata with unmatched rhythm, and she brought a kind of energy that made people want to be around her. She had that rare ability to make moments feel alive.

She leaves behind her three beautiful children, their father, her grandmother Fatima, her mother Elizabeth, and family and friends who love her endlessly.

Her passing has left a space that can never be filled... an empty seat at every table, a silence where her laughter once lived.

We are coming together to support her children and honor Nicola’s life. The funds raised will help create a sense of security for her children as they grow, supporting their needs, providing stability, and allowing for meaningful experiences, while also helping them through whatever unexpected moments life may bring—reflecting the love and opportunities Nicola always wanted for them.

If you are able to donate, no matter the amount, it will mean more than words can express. And if you cannot, your prayers, your support, and sharing this message means everything to our family.

Nicola’s love lives on—in her children, in our memories, and in the countless lives she touched.

She will never be forgotten.

To Nicki.