Mateo Rahimjon Garcia

Mateo Rahimjon Garcia, age 7, passed away on July 28, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio, after a long and courageous battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). He was born on October 12, 2017, to Felix and Shahnoza Garcia in Springfield, Illinois.

Mateo attended Grace Life Christian Child Care Preschool, Early Learning Center Kindergarten and First Grade in the New Albany Plains School District. Mateo was a member of the Church of the Resurrection, participated in youth soccer, and attended summer school at GLCC.

Throughout the past 20 months, Mateo exhibited strength, courage, and love for his family, friends, and others. Mateo never let this horrible illness deter his loving and uplifting spirit. A family friend described Mateo as an “Angel on earth, the sweetest, kindest, and purest little boy she has ever met.” Many others echoed the same sentiments.

After receiving the diagnosis in November 2023, we will forever be grateful for the time we had together as a family. God blessed us, allowing us to see Mateo graduate Kindergarten and complete First Grade, to celebrate his 7th birthday, and to make many trips together to visit family, including his maternal grandmother, uncles, aunts, and cousins in Toronto, Canada, and the Rickel Family in Wisconsin last summer. Mateo was also was able to see his sister cheer during the 2024 football season, to spend some moments with his best friend Arthur Davie, to reunite with his Kindergarten classmates for a play date, to have a day of fun at King’s Island, to celebrate the holidays and special occasions, and to receive his First Communion and the Anointing of the Sick.

The most joyous occasions for family came when Mateo could return home and reunite with Felix Junior and Lupita when he was released between treatments and during his remission.

Mateo loved to dance, sing, and do gymnastics at home and school. He loved visiting family, playing with his classmates, and enjoyed watching movies on Disney Channel. He also enjoyed playing Roblox, Super Mario, and other video games with his siblings, family, friends, and even the nursing staff at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

He will forever be remembered for his loving nature, beautiful smile, courage, and kind soul. Even at seven years old, Mateo made a lasting impact on us, making the world a better place. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, classmates, and many others, and he leaves a legacy of love that touched everyone who knew him.

During the past 20 months, so many families and individuals sent their prayers, wishes, get-well cards, meals, gifts, and many other acts of kindness. We send our sincere thank you to every one of them for their support and love.

Mateo is survived by his parents, Felix and Shahnoza; siblings Guadalupe “Lupita” and Felix R. Garcia; paternal grandparents Guadalupe and Alicia Garcia; paternal great-grandparents Luz Gomez and Felicitas Benavidez; maternal grandparents Mavjuda Karima and Rustam Vafoev; aunts and uncles Pedro Garcia, Elvia Garcia Medrano, Cynthia Garcia, Suhrob (Zarnigor) Vafoev, and Sardor (Mohinur) Vafoev; along with 15 cousins.

Visitation will be held on Friday, August 8, 2025 from 3:00pm – 7:00pm at Schoedinger Northeast Funeral Home, 1051 E Johnstown Road, Gahanna, OH 43230, with a Rosary service at the end of visitation hours, beginning around 6:45pm.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place the following morning, August 9, at 10:00am at Church of the Resurrection, 6300 E Dublin Granville Rd, New Albany, OH 43054. Family will receive guests prior to Mass from 9:00am – 10:00am.

A private interment will be held in Napoleon, Ohio.

Following the Mass, refreshments and fellowship will be offered in the Social Hall at Church of the Resurrection.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mateo’s honor to the Tyler Robinson Foundation, NC4K, Church of the Resurrection or to a charity of your choice.