Mila Melida Muniz was born on September 30, 2012, in New York, New York, the beloved daughter of Gracie Irizarry and Damian Muniz. After a fiercely fought battle with an aggressive brain Tumor (DIPG), Mila passed away on July 19, 2026, at Boston Children’s Hospital, surrounded by the love of her parents who stood beside her every step of the way and never gave up hope.

Thirteen years could never have been enough for a life as full of personality, laughter, creativity, friendship, and love as Mila’s.

Mila was hilarious and witty, thoughtful and selfless, bold and brave. She was kind, generous, headstrong, independent, and unapologetically herself. She was outgoing and engaging, fearless and courageous, and she loved nothing more than being surrounded by the people she loved.

Mila was, in every sense, a girl’s girl. She was a fiercely loyal friend who led with integrity, acceptance, and genuine support for the people around her. Her friends knew they could be themselves with Mila. She had a remarkable way of making people feel comfortable in her presence, and, perhaps even more importantly, comfortable with who they were themselves. She celebrated the people she loved, stood beside them, and made sure they knew they belonged.

Mila had recently completed the eighth grade at Palm Valley Academy, where she was proud to serve as a cheerleading captain. She also participated in flag football and served on the yearbook committee.

Outside of school, Mila found another place to shine through musical theater. She loved performing and was especially proud of earning lead roles in musicals. Whether she was onstage, dancing, crafting, or simply making the people around her laugh, Mila brought her creativity and personality fully into the things she loved. Among her proudest accomplishments were graduating from eighth grade, making the cheer team, earning lead roles in musicals, and finding the courage to ride a roller coaster.

Creativity was woven throughout Mila’s life. She loved crafting, music, dancing, and expressing herself through her hair, makeup, and nails. She loved to shop almost as much as she loved coming home afterward and presenting her family with a full account of her latest “shopping haul.” She was a foodie, loved her Jellycats, and took particular delight in pulling off tasteful pranks on the friends and family members lucky enough to be closest to her.

And then there were the NeeDohs.

Mila didn’t simply have a few, she had a collection numbering in the hundreds, in seemingly every shape, style, and variety she could find. Hunting for new NeeDohs became an adventure all its own. As her illness increasingly affected her mobility and eventually her sight, they remained something she could hold, feel, collect, and enjoy. They were colorful, quirky, fun, and plentiful, a collection that somehow feels perfectly suited to the girl who loved them.

Above all else, Mila loved her family and her friends, and she was deeply loved in return. She leaves behind her devoted parents, Gracie Irizarry and Damian Muniz, along with a large and loving family of aunts, uncles, cousins, and countless friends whose lives are forever changed because Mila was part of them.

Mila’s life was far more than the illness she faced, but the way she faced it revealed so much of who she had always been: headstrong, fearless, independent, courageous, and extraordinarily brave. She will be loved for far longer than thirteen years could ever measure.

Family and friends are invited to gather at St. John Paul II Catholic Church on Monday, July 27, from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. for a visitation, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 5:00 p.m.

Immediately following the Mass, Mila’s parents invite family, friends, and children to join them for a reception under the tents outside the church, where they will continue to gather, share memories, and celebrate Mila’s beautiful life together.

Those wishing to honor Mila may consider supporting a foundation being established in her memory. Additional information regarding the foundation and how to contribute will be shared as soon as it becomes available.