Hello, my name is Silvia Rodriguez. Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I started this GoFundMe to help my parents give my brother the proper funeral he deserves.

Unfortunately, yesterday, Sept. 16th in the evening, my family and I experienced my brother's passing. It brings me so much pain having to write this about my own brother. Many loved ones know my brother has been sick for a couple of years now due to diabetes, amputations, low oxygen, heart failure, losing his eyesight, and issues with his lungs, liver, and kidneys. My brother was constantly in and out of the hospital throughout the years. Getting up to go get his dialysis done was the hardest days and his least favorite thing to do. His body was weak and his spirit was tired but he still prayed every single day. Despite Ernie always being in constant pain, he continued to have the same loving and kind heart everyone always knew him for. He was like the class clown of the family, always trying to make everyone laugh by cracking jokes all the time. He really knew how to make somebody laugh. I would get home from a long day at work, and he always made sure to ask about my day because he liked listening to the weird things i’d experience at my job. i appreciated those conversations more than he knew because nobody else was really as curious as he was. My brother ernie was also a very loving uncle to all 7 girls and my nephew. He always made sure the kids were having fun when he was around and He loved being involved in everything they did. Watching them grow up was something we all wanted him to experience with the rest of us. At some point my mom became his caretaker so he wouldn’t have to stay in the hospital or in a rehabilitation center for months straight, he preferred being at home much more with us despite how hard it was to take care of him while being in such vulnerable condition. With that being said, me and my family would very much appreciate any donations you’d like to make it would mean the world to us, if you aren’t able to contribute at this time, i would be internally grateful if you could share our story with your friends and family. Thank you very much and God bless.