The funeral for U.S. Navy Officer Jason Araiza is scheduled for Monday at Holy Family Church in Duxbury, with flags across the state ordered to be flown at half-staff in honor of him.
Araiza, 23, of Duxbury, died unexpectedly on Nov. 28, the Duxbury Clipper wrote. He was stationed in Norfolk, Va., and assigned to the USS George Washington as an interior communications electrician. His cause of death was not listed.
Born in Illinois on March 3, 2000, Araiza lived in Colorado before his family moved to Duxbury in 2004 to live closer to his grandparents, his obituary read. He played football as a freshman at Duxbury High School, and after he suffered a concussion, he continued to support his team, “cheering them on at every game,” the Clipper wrote. He graduated in 2018.
Araiza also learned American Sign Language and signed the national anthem at games.
Following his graduation, he fulfilled a lifelong dream by enlisting in the military and was sworn into the U.S. Navy in August 2018, reaching the rank of petty officer second class. He received several medals, including the Navy and Marines Corps Achievement medal, his obituary said.
“Jason enjoyed fencing, lifting weights, swimming, sailing, rowing on Duxbury Bay, and obtained a black belt in taekwondo,” his obituary said. “He will be remembered for always being his authentic self and known by family and friends as funny, kind, accepting, selfless and supportive.”
Araiza is survived by his mother, Paula, his brother, Mark Trudeau, grandfather, Alfred Potrnicki, aunts Patricia Wetherbee and Karen Poturnicki and his great-aunt Mary Poturnicki, along with several cousins.
Visiting hours were held on Sunday at the Cartmell-Davis Life Celebration Funeral Home at 373 Court St. in North Plymouth. His funeral Mass will be on Monday, Dec. 18 at 11 a.m. at Holy Family Church at 601 Tremont St. in Duxbury, with his burial to follow at Mayflower Cemetery.
Three people commented on Araiza’s Legacy obituary, expressing their condolences and remembering Araiza.
“Jason and I took ASL together in high school,” Devin Bombardier wrote on Dec. 17. “He was thoughtful, funny, and caring. I will never forget the way he treated others. More people should be like Jason. Sending love and prayers to family and friends.”
A commenter, who wrote her name as Beth, said on Dec. 16, “Jason was so very kind to our young son when we first moved to Trout Farm Lane, he was a beautiful, gentle soul that we will always remember. Sending much love to you, dear Paula.”
Gov. Maura Healey ordered all flags in Massachusetts to remain lowered at half-staff in honor of Araiza. Flags were previously at half-staff following the deaths of National Grid employee Roderick Jackson and Waltham Police Officer Paul Tracey, who were both killed when a car struck them while at a construction site on Dec. 6.
Healey also ordered flags to stay at half-staff in honor of Air Force member Jacob “Jake” Galliher, who died on Nov. 29 in a training mission off the coast of Japan.
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