After Carlos Orduno tragically lost his life in a car accident in Akron on November 10, the Orduno family was thrown into a whirlwind of emotions and loss that still feels like a bad dream.
Losing their oldest son, Carlos, just three days before his 19th birthday was something his parents, Juan Carlos and Ivonne Orduno, never imagined they'd ever to have to deal with, both mentally and financially.
When the time came to plan the boy's funeral, however, the kindness of a helpful community member gave the Orduno's a glimmer of hope and light during the family's darkest hour.
Overwhelmed by the outpouring of community support since the tragedy, it wasn't until after losing Carlos that the Orduno's realized how much of an impact their son had made to those outside of their close-knit family.
The amount of people who continue to reach out to the Orduno's with love, support and stories of Carlos still surprise the Orduno family as the days pass. Despite going through every parents worst nightmare, the Ordunos said the kindness given by the Rochester community has been both mindblowing and extremely helpful.
Carlos' funeral and headstone is now being paid for, a blessing the Orduno family wants to share with others. The extra donations the family received are now being given to help support the Rochester High School wrestling team.
The 2023 Rochester graduate was especially proud of his accomplishments as a wrestler. His senior year was highlighted by being a Three Rivers Conference champion and sectional runner-up. He had also ascended to IHSAA Semistate. Carlos had currently been serving as a volunteer coach at North Miami High School, where he went by Coach Orduno to students.
A scholarship is in the process of being created, in memory of Carlos for other RHS wrestler's college education. The Orduno family hopes the scholarship will not only keep the memory of Carlos alive for years to come, but also help other students achieve their dreams and goals in the future.
A box will also be set up for donations towards the RHS Wrestling Team during his viewing this Friday, from 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. at the Good Family Funeral Home in Rochester. Memorials in lieu of flowers may be made in Carlos's name to the RHS Wrestling Team, 1 Zebra Lane, Rochester, IN, 46975.
Younger brother, Marcos Orduno, 15, refelected about how much of an influence Carlos had made on his life.
Since Carlos's passing, the Orduno family continues to discover more about how much of an impact he had made to those who had experienced the positivity, encouragement and kindness Carlos gave to others.
Older sister Evelin Dittman reflected on how Carlos had been the heart of their family. Although his living presence in the family has been lost, Dittman said the memory of her little brother will be lessons that will live on forever.
