4-year-old Acushnet girl who died from flu complications remembered for being full of love

Tragedy has struck for a local family as a precious little girl has died.

Mariana Lee Ortiz, 4, of Acushnet, passed away unexpectedly due to complications of Flu A on Sunday, February 1, 2026.

Born in New Bedford, daughter of Carlos Ortiz and Shaina Lavallee, she lived in Acushnet all of her life.

Mariana was a student at the Stepping Stones Group, a program which she loved. She adored her teachers, Priscilla, Gabby and Jenn. Mariana loved going for car rides, amusement park rides, looking at Christmas lights, and watching Baby Shark on her tablet. Mariana was full of love and was happiest spending time with her friends and family.

Survivors include her parents, Carlos and Shaina; her siblings, Noelia Ortiz, Elleana Ortiz, and Amelia Ortiz; her grandparents, Ginger Lavallee, Ivette Valcarcel, and Carlos Rodriguez; her great-grandmother, Carol Ryan; her aunts and uncles, Robert and Heather Pelletier, Jarod Brown and his significant other Jasmine, Heather and Marco Sousa, Sarah Mendes, Erica Harrison, Zuleika Ortiz, Yvette Muñoz, Ageisha Valcarcel, Titi Saro, Efrain Otero, Edgardo, and Bianca Rodriguez; and many cousins.

Mariana’s father told Fall River Reporter what happened to his child to spread awareness.

“Our daughter presented as if she was in septic shock to the hospitals. The hospital treated as such, but we did get the results yesterday that it was not septic shock. They’re unsure of why but on Thursday our daughter had no symptoms, by Saturday morning she was collapsing. No lung issues, but her heart was failing. They can’t explain why it happened.”

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.