Maritza Arellano

Maritza Arellano Gray passed away surrounded by her loved ones on November 9th, 2020 after she braved a difficult 18-month battle with ovarian cancer. She was born January 22, 1964 in Managua, Nicaragua where she lived most of her childhood. Maritza came to the United States as an exchange student where she graduated from Joseph High school in the State of Oregon. In 1982, she moved to Miami, Florida where she reunited with her family and lived until her passing. Maritza was a proud graduate of University of Miami Summa Cum Laude and later she completed several Master Degrees. She started her professional career in the private sector and later transitioned to local government where she worked for Miami Dade County for almost two decades. Maritza was a dynamic achiever and passionate to live life to the fullest. She loved nature and fostered equality and fairness in the world. She had a clever sense of humor and was always willing to help out and listen. It was hard not to become friends with her once you met her. Maritza’s true passion was journeying to exotic places, from St. Petersburg, Russia to Cape Town, South Africa and from Montreal, Canada to Patagonia, Argentina and made many friends all over the globe. Maritza is survived by her children Kevin and Kellie Gray, her mother Maritza Castillo de Arellano, and her two brothers Roberto and Jorge Arellano.

Donations can be made in her name to the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA) or to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

A visitation for Maritza will be held Sunday, November 15, 2020 from 4:00 PM to 11:59 PM at Caballero Rivero Woodlawn South, 11655 SW 117 Ave, Miami, Florida 33186.