Amariz Lucia Cortez

Our 10-year-old baby girl, Amariz Lucia Cortez, passed from this world on Friday, May 12, 2023 at 2:33. We had the precious experience of holding space and supporting her as she danced across the rainbow bridge hand-in-hand with her "Tita," Marissa and the Blessed Mother.

Amariz was born to Benjamin and Alicia Cortez on Wednesday, October 3, 2012 in Tucson, AZ. She was known to all her friends, family, teachers, healthcare providers and advocates as an amazing, beautiful, intelligent, vibrant, fun-loving, humorous person. She was first, a little girl who loved riding her horse, "Haven." She loved watching Sesame Street, having dance parties, and going to school to be with her friends. Her favorite color was rainbow and she loved lions, elephants, dinosaurs, and unicorns. Most of all, she loved being kind and loved humanity and the state of being human.

Amariz was keenly aware of her purpose on this Earth and the lessons she came to teach. She was aware of why she chose us and why she chose each of you. She inspired us to advocate for this vision and these needs to be fulfilled for her sake and for the sake and benefit of all people.

Amariz loved and accepted each of us just as we are and expected the same in return. Through her inspiration and her often inexplicable ability to communicate and inspire beyond the limitations of her physical body, she inspired us to honor her path and her person because she afforded us the same honor and respect. Through her inspiration we chose to foster relationships and seek people, forces and things that supported her in her vision for herself and for humanity.

Amariz, just by being who she was and through her promptings, brought lessons of love, reverence for life, and a sacredness to humanity no matter where she went.

As her last work, Amariz gave the gift of life to several other people by donating her organs.

Amariz leaves on this Earth her parents, Alicia and Benjamin Cortez; her siblings, Quiara and Joaquin; her grandmothers, Rosemarie Romero and Pita Cortez; uncle, Eugene (Bernadette) Romero; aunt, Venessa Romero-Meirs (Gary); ninos/cousins, Frank (Francine) Argüello; tíos/cousins, Francisca (Diego) Trujillo, Flavio Argüello (Ericko); her cousins, Kassandra, Kristiana, Destin, Morgan, Kimberly and Noah. Antonio, Alicia, Francisco, Javier, Diego, Gabriela and Kane.

She is preceded in death by her grandfathers, Benito "Benny" Romero and Benjamin J. Cortez; great-grandparents, Predicanda and Pedro Ortiz, Josefina and Patricio Romero, Lucila and Palemón Argüello, and Elena and Lucio Cortez.

We are forever grateful to Marylou Perez for the kind, compassionate care she gave Amariz over the past five years. Marylou loved Amariz like her own and gave of her time, energy and life selflessly to Amariz and our whole family.

Please join us in celebrating Amariz in sacred reverence of life.

Services will be held at St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church, 5712 Paradise Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM.
Friday, June 9, 2023
Rosary at 9:30 a.m
Mass at 10:15 a.m
Reception to follow at St. Jude Thaddeus Parish Hall.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, please consider making a memorial donation in Amariz' name to the organizations below. Each of these organizations made a miraculous difference in our lives and we wish to share their gifts with others.

KidsBridge Hippotherapy Services
https://www.kidsbridgetherapy.com/contact-us.html

Carrie Tingley Hospital Foundation
https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E115278&id=1

UNM Children's Hospital - Children's Miracle Network
https://www.unmfund.org/s/1959/lg22/form.aspx?sid=1959&gid=2&pgid=478&cid=1147&dids=686&appealcode=11551

Make-A-Wish New Mexico
https://secure2.wish.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=donate_today&chid=057-000

International Rett Syndrome Foundation
https://www.rettsyndrome.org/donate/