Gabriella Marie Castillo, 16, of Northford was granted her angel wings on Tuesday, August 21, 2012 following a long battle with osteosarcoma. Her last days were spent at her beloved Camp Rising Sun surrounded by friends and staff who loved her. She was born in Bridgeport on August 30, 1995 and was the beloved daughter of Kathleen Sullivan Castillo of Northford and Jose Castillo of Shelton. She was faced with many challenges throughout her short life which she faced with stubborn determination and courage. She is also survived by her sister Juliana Castillo of Northford; maternal grandparents Thomas and Tabby Sullivan of Hooksett, NH; paternal grandparents Flor Castillo of Branford and the late Jose Castillo; aunts and uncles Kim Sullivan of Stafford Springs and Mark Sullivan of Stratham, NH, and cousins Samantha, Kelsey and Jake Sullivan. Also survived by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins on her paternal side.
Her funeral procession will leave the North Haven Funeral Home, 36 Washington Avenue, Saturday morning at 10:30. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated in St. Monica’s Church, Northford at 11:00. Interment will follow in the Northford Cemetery. The visiting hours will be Friday from 5 to 7 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Camp Rising Sun Charitable Foundation, P.O. Box 310611, Newington, CT 06151-0611.
My heart is filled with sadness for all of you, but I am confident that our Lord will walk beside you during the difficult days ahead. God bless you.
It is when we loose our little people that it makes believe they become our Angels on Earth. Gabby Will be Queen Angel for no one would be more deserving than her. Kathy and Julie, you two are so strong and inspirations to all who know you! All our love and prayers to you!!!
Though we did not know you well, stories of your spirit and strength were an inspiration to our family. May you rest in peace in the arms of our Lord.
Kathy, Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with you during the days ahead. Gabby was certainly a brave young lady.
Our deepest sympathies go out to your family.
We send our love.
Although I have never had the opportunity to meet you in person, you have been in my many prayers. May you rest in the arms of the many angels that you are now a part of. God Bless you Gabby.
Dear Kathy, Jose’ and Juliana – I cannot imagine your grief right now, but I hope that knowing Gabby was well loved by many will help in some small way. Eve and Emily let Alexa and I know – and I will treasure the memories of our times at the beach house. I have pictures of all the girls digging in the sand, and later dancing and limbo-ing. Gabby was playing right along with the rest of the girls wearing a pink boa. Alexa and I send you our warmest regards, much sympathy for your loss and many happy memories of Gabby. Please know she touched our hearts.
With Love, Dorica and Alexa
Kathy & Julie, We are so sorry for your great loss, You and your family are our thoughts and Prayers.
I can’t imagine how difficult this is for you and your daughter. You are in my prayers. Much love, Cathy.
I met Gabby once or twice at the Police Dept when she came in with her Aunt Kim. I did know her vicariously through her Aunt, as Kim always shared the unbelievable journey of her illness. I learned so much from Gabby. She was strong, accepting, determined and always persevered no matter what mountain she needed to climb. I so admired her and all of you who were always at her side aiding her with all the steps she had to face. You are all heroes.
I know there are no words to ease the pain, so just know that our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Gabby clearly was her own boss, who, had a great supportive,loving mother and sister. Gabby knew what she wanted in life and did what she had to do to get it. I will never forget her perserverence and fortitude in fighting her battle with cancer. I know in my heart that Gabby is sitting amoung the Angels watching over us all. God Bless
My heart hurts for the pain you must all be feeling at the loss of your beautiful grandaughter/daughter. May the memories of her courageous and beautiful spirit help to sustain you during this very difficult time. With much love and sorrow….Colleen & Steve
I wish I got to know Gabby more! She was so sweet and SO funny! We had a lot of good laughs; I will never forget them.
My deepest sympathy to Kathy and Julie at this most difficult time. It was an honor to have known Gabby. She was a brave, young woman with a strong, caring mother and wonderful sister to share her short life with. She is now pain free and resting. You will always be in my thoughts and prayers. God Bless you Gabby.
Love & hugs from Indianapolis
Osteo friends Janet and Zoe (osteo warrior born 1995)
May you fly with the angels, Gabby, and rest in their arms.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this most difficult time. Gabby’s strength, courage, spirit and memories will forever be in your heart. Our sincerest sympathies go out to you and the family.
My deepest condolences to the family , my heart goes out to all of you.
Gabby was a pleasure to be around, she truely was a great friend and inspiration. We will always remember her and she will always be in our hearts. May she rest in peace. We have had a lot of good times and memories together.
Best wishes and prayers.
I’m so deeply sorry to hear of Gabby’s passing. I cannot imagine your tremendous heartache. I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.
I still remember Gabby from TVES and thinking how brave she was. Kathy, my prayers are with you
We love you and miss you Gabby. Enjoy being pain free there in Heaven.
I honor you, period. Bless your family.
Kathy…Words cannot express how sorry I am for your loss. Know that you made lots of great memories together and that she is shining down on you, smiling. She will always be with you and your family…..in spirit and in love.
God bless you and your family. I’m so very sorry to see this news.
She will always be an inspiration to us all….. Just her wit and humor… would have everyone smiling and laughing…. she will be missed on this earth …. but never forgotten. Until we all meet again :).
We were blessed to have Gabby in our lives and enjoyed her as part of our own family for years. She was a brave young woman and we should all learn from her determination.She was dear friend to my sons and I am grateful for that. Kathy you have been a remarkable mother and so strong.Julie you have been such a wonderful sister to Gabby. I saw that first hand w/ how you helped her . Be proud of that.Gabby will be missed but all of our lives are better for having her in it.May God help you all to find peace as you begin to heal.
May your spirit soar with Peace and Joy.
My deepest sympathy to Kathy, Julie and family.
Gabby was one of my FRC kids at TVES.
Treasure the memories.
Now there is an angel with bandannas.
To a true shining star, may you always sparkle bright as you did here on earth. Until we meet again….Peace, love and HUGS xoxoxo
Paul, Heidi, Meghan and Michael-Wesley
Gabby you are now a very sweet angel/watching over us. We will keep you always in our hearts and someday we will run with wind together Love you
Thank you Gabby for showing me what cthtthourage and strength really mean. You are a beautiful Angel, my love to you and your family.
Oh sweet family, how I weep with you. . . I celebrate that she is not suffering, but my grief for your loss, for what this disease took far outweigh my joy for her release in these moments. I am so sorry and I send my love, my prayers and my hope that something better awaits us all at the end of this journey – and that somehow, that hope can sustain you until you are together with your baby, your sister, your daughter, your granddaughter, your sweet Gabby again.
Love and prayers,
Lynn
I am so sorry, my heart goes out to your family. I have never met Gabby, but I’m sure she was like so many of the other Osteo-angels…father to Kayla, Osteo-angel, 1998-2010. Pittsburgh, PA
The loss of such a beautiful soul will be felt by our whole community. Please know that you and your family are in our prayers. God Bless Gabby.
You all have my most sincere and deepest sympathy for Gabby’s passing.
She will be in my prayers forever.
My love to all…………………..
Prayers and love to you and your family, prayers for comfort from our Lord and savior. Gabby is free from cancer, but that doesn’t heal a broken heart. Thinking of you all. From your Osteosarcoma friends, Kim and Truman Hedrick, Truman is an Osteosarcoma warrior, born in 2000, diagnosed at age 9.
Our sympathies are with Gabby’s family as they face this tragic event and the days ahead. We are so sorry that we cannot attend the services because we are out in Idaho. Sincerely, Melissa Robbins and Michael Lombardo ( Sal Gullo’s Aunt and Uncle)
It was an honor to know Gabby. She will be greatly missed but knowing she is in heaven watching over her loved ones is a small consolation. God Bless you and your family Gabby.
Gabby was strong willed and valient in her fight with this horrible disease…so often with her bright smile. She had incredible challenges in her life, more than the rest of us could bear. I had the pleasure of seeing her grow from a cute little girl to a wonderful and funny young lady. Prayers to you and your family now and for the time to come. Yes…there is an angel in heaven with a bandanna now!
Sending you strength of prayers to see you through the up coming days, weeks, months and years of pain of living without your dear Gabby. From another Osteosarcoma family who also has lost our beloved Nick at 19 yrs after a 4 year battle also on March 5th 2010. When your feeling loss and the sorrow beyond belief, know that you are not alone… we still move from one day to the next – One day at a time missing Nick daily. We will be there for you if you need a shoulder to just listen to you.
Our deepest sympathies. To a life bravely lived and to her family that loved her so, may your memories bless you with feelings of peace and love.
Kathy and all your family,
We are praying for you all as you miss Gabby. We praise God that Gabby is now resting comfortably in his everlasting arms.
God bless you all
Becky and Keith