Support for Ray's Memorial & Our Family During this Tragedy

My handsome, funny, loud, loving, larger than life little brother is gone. He is in now in a better place and free of all pain, suffering, or sadness. I know he is with our Dad, our Grandma Molly, our Grandpa Cantu, and our Uncle Shannon. He was born Ernesto Ray Cantu on November 23rd, 1988 and didn't want to leave our mother's womb without a fight, so my Grandma Molly called him Rocky. My sister and I call him Bubba, but everybody has a different name for him...most importantly his 5 beautiful children who called him Daddy.

Anyone who knew my brother knew he had a huge heart and loved so hard. He just wanted to be heard, loved, and remembered as a family man with heart of gold who made friends with anyone and everyone. For the past couple years he has been battling swift and progressive Lung Cancer and another disease that took his life. We come from a family severely affected both both diseases (Cancer & Alcoholism/Addiction). It was all too overwhelming for my Bubba and he died in my mother's arms on Tuesday 12/17/2024. Ray was my mother's baby boy and she had just finished weeks of radiation for breast cancer a couple days prior. Our family is being hit with so much at once and we are mourning while trying to stay strong. Growing up we never had it easy, but it was always Risa, Mandy, and Ray and we've all been through a lot together. Now our Bubba is in a better place and he is more than missed by so many people.

Ray was so loved and his energy took all of the attention wherever he was. Our hearts are broken in millions of pieces and we are in desperate need for help to cover a proper memorial service and expenses to help my family celebrate my brother the way he deserves. We also want to have enough funds to ensure his 5 beautiful children have a Christmas. Anything will help in this difficult time...anything. I have a goal of hitting at least $20,000. Please share this and share any memories, photos, or videos you have of my Bubba.

Only us close to Ray knew how much his heart ached and how much pain he was enduring, so we all know he is at peace now with those we have already lost ...talking over them, laughing loud, and being the jolly larger than life presence we all know and love.

We are still deciding exactly when the Celebration of Life Memorial will be, but we hope to have it after Christmas but before the new year (likely the last weekend of the year). It will all depend on many factors. Ray wanted to be cremated and we all have spots where he wanted his ashes to be. Please help me, my sister, my mom, and Michelle and his kids have the means to celebrate my brother's life and get through this enormous loss.

Feel free to share this with anyone on any platform...we need all of the help we can get.

Pray for his beautiful mini mes: Destinee, Korinne, Collette, Mina, and Odin (ages 4-17)

With love,

His Biggest Sissy Risa...who will never be the same.

Ernesto Ray Cantu

11/23/1988-12/17/2024

aka: Daddy, Bubba, Little Ray, RC tha Great, RC, RayRay, Ceezy, "The REAL Man", Rocky, Ray :)