Cristina Worley

Cristina Worley passed away at Lexington Medical Center on the morning of Monday, June 1st after a short and devastating battle with pancreatic cancer. Her best friend and sister Elena was holding her. She was 52 years old and just a week away from her 53rd birthday. She was a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a sister, and a best friend. She was also a fighter. Even with daily chronic pain for much of her life, she filled each day of her life and the lives of those around her with whimsy, magic, laughter, and love.

Cristina was born on June 7, 1973 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She always seemed destined to be a mother with how she spoke and stepped into a caregiver role for others. At just 9 years old, she helped raise her two baby sisters Denisse and Elena. Denise was 3 years old, and Elena was not even 1 year old.

When Cristina met Frank in December 1992, it was love at first sight and they married the following year on August 26. She had her first child Crystal in May 1994. 3 years later came her son David, and a year after came Milo. She always said she would give her children the world if she could, and given the chance, she would have.

She loved animals. She and her family had a sweet beagle named Poe for 16 years. Poe loved Cristina more than life itself. The last few years of her life she adopted two cats: Obi and Luna. Her cat Obi was her soulmate in cat form, but she adored Luna just as much.

Her favorite color was purple. She loved drawing and painting. She cooked and baked for hundreds of holidays and birthdays over her lifetime. (Always for others, not for herself.) She loved wearing silly animal slippers. She loved music. She loved to sing and be an actress. And she loved all the many many TV shows and movies she consumed. She really loved Disney movies and any movies or shows about animals.

On April 27, 2026, she was diagnosed with an aggressive stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Over the next few weeks, CT scans would show new tumors on her lungs even some close to her heart. After one round of chemotherapy in mid-May, her body was already shutting down. She elected to start hospice care after spending a week in the hospital with chemo-induced sepsis. She was able to stay in her own home for a little over a week on hospice before she had to be admitted to the hospital again. During all this time, her pain was unbearable. Doctors and nurses were unable to manage her pain, and so unfortunately her last month of life was spent suffering. The moment she finally knew peace was the moment she passed. Those who love her and were with her in her last few weeks wanted so much more for her. She was the kindest most selfless human on earth and she deserved so much more than what this life gave her. There was so much more she still wanted to do. It is unfair, and she will be missed forever.

Cristina is survived by her beloved husband of almost 33 years, Frank Worley; her two fur babies and kitties, Obi & Luna; her three children whom she loved immensely, Crystal Camron, David Worley Criado, and Milo Gunning; her sons-in-law, Barrie Gunning and Drew Camron; her grandchildren, Leo, Willow, and Lucian; her parents, Javier Criado and Yolanda Gracia; her siblings, Javi, Denisse, Elena, and Alejandro; her dear nieces, Marilena and Paulimar; and many more family members and dear friends. She leaves behind a legacy of love, compassion, and grace.

We will love her forever, and even then still.