Marlene Fagundo Torres

With profound love and heavy hearts, we share that Marlene Fagundo Torres, age 63, passed away peacefully on December 20, 2025, in West Palm Beach, Florida, after a courageous 13-year journey with ALS.

Marlene was born on August 6, 1962, in the Bronx, New York, to Emilia Iris Jimenez Fagundo and Angel Fagundo, both proud Puerto Ricans who worked tirelessly after moving from Puerto Rico to New York City to give their children the best life possible. She grew up in Washington Heights, surrounded by family, culture, music, and faith, which shaped the woman she became.

Marlene attended Mother Cabrini High School, where her warmth and beauty shone so brightly that she was honored as a prom queen. On September 1, 1984, she married Dorian E. Torres in New York City, and together, they built a life rooted in love and devotion. Eventually, they settled in Miami, Florida, where they raised their three daughters, their greatest pride and joy: Emily Iris Torres-Medaglia, Bianca Marie Torres, and Chloe Iris Torres-Camacho.

Above all else, Marlene was a mother and homemaker at heart. She poured her soul into creating a warm, joyful home filled with love, laughter, traditions, and unforgettable memories. She was the glue of her family—hosting every holiday, decorating with intention, cooking incredible meals, and making sure everyone felt welcomed, celebrated, and deeply loved. She was also a devoted Nana to Michelangelo N. Medaglia, whose life brought her immense happiness and purpose.

Professionally, Marlene wore many hats over the years. She worked as a travel agent with her lifelong friend Maria Camacho, served in administrative and operations roles within the Florida school system, and completed her career at UM Sylvester Cancer Center, where her compassion and kindness touched many. Still, her proudest accomplishment was always her family.

Marlene was known as the kindest person—sweet, funny, nurturing, patient, open-minded, and endlessly loving. She had an extraordinary gift for making people feel seen, heard, and valued. Even on her hardest days, she greeted others with a smile, remembered everyone’s names, asked thoughtful questions, and radiated warmth. Her presence alone made people feel at ease. She loved fiercely, especially when it came to her daughters and grandson, and all she ever truly wanted in return was love and support.

She found joy in music of all kinds, dancing, cooking, decorating, gardening in her rose beds, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. She was an exceptional cook, and food was one of her many love languages. She showed love through action—remembering birthdays, special dates, favorite things, and always making people feel important.

In June 2013, Marlene was officially diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), though her journey with the disease began earlier. She lived with ALS from 2013 until 2025, facing it with extraordinary resilience, perseverance, grace, rebellion, determination, and unwavering faith. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects the nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscles, eventually impacting a person’s ability to move, speak, swallow, and breathe—while the mind and spirit remain fully intact. Though ALS robbed Marlene of physical abilities, it never touched her heart, her faith, or her love.

Through her battle, she taught those around her powerful lessons: never give up on yourself, no matter how dark things become; you matter beyond measure; and as long as you can breathe, you exist, you are loved, and you are worthy. Even in suffering, she remained optimistic, deeply faithful, and focused on living each moment fully, as if it were her last.

Marlene leaves behind a legacy of unconditional love, faith, kindness, and quiet strength. She will be remembered for her gentle spirit, joyful smile, ability to bring people together, and unwavering devotion to her family. She changed lives not through grand gestures, but through everyday acts of compassion—listening, remembering, nurturing, and loving without condition. Her children and grandson carry forward her light, her values, and her deep belief in love above all else.

She is survived by her husband, Dorian E. Torres; her daughters Emily I. Torres-Medaglia, Bianca M. Torres, and Chloe I. Torres-Camacho; her grandson, Michelangelo N. Medaglia; her brother Angel Fagundo, Jr.; her brother-in-law, Elsten L. Torres; her sons-in-law, Helbert E. Asprilla-Medaglia and Yesid Camacho; and her beloved chosen family, including Maria Ugartechea and the Ugartechea family, her sister and lifelong soulmate.

In place of flowers or other expressions of sympathy, the family encourages donations to the scholarship being created in Marlene’s name with the ALS chapter, as a way to transform love and remembrance into lasting impact. Contributions may be made at https://gofund.me/ffeaf2302

Marlene’s life was guided by faith and a deep spiritual awareness. She believed in living with compassion and presence, drawing strength from love, nature, and the understanding that we are all connected.

We say goodbye not with darkness, but with gratitude and love—for a life so beautifully lived.

When you’re having a dark day, Marlene would say: “If you can breathe, you exist. You matter. You are loved. Where there is love, there is life.”

May she rest in eternal peace, surrounded by light, free from pain, and forever watching over those she loved so fiercely. She is now flying free amongst all of the other angels in heaven.