Ariel Diamond-Ma'hina Cassidy-Ising

East Lyme- - Ariel Diamond-Ma'hina Cassidy-Ising, 21, of East Lyme, passed away Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at home in her own bed. She was born in Honolulu, Hawaii March 9, 2001, the night of a full moon, to David Ben Ising of Orlando, Fla., and Kristin Michele (Cassidy) Giuliano of East Lyme.

She was a graduate of East Lyme High School , Class of 2019. Ariel was an amazing soft ball player, a force of a soccer goalie, and she loved wrestling. It wasn't until she found her true calling, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), that Ariel absolutely shone. Unfortunately, an accident took that away from her just a few years later; however, Ariel found ways to stay a happy and up-beat person. Everyone who met her just adored her. From her group of friends, the Little CHUYs, to people she met and connected with on a daily basis, everyone thought she was such a sweetheart, and they were right.

Ariel loved her family with such force, and sometimes that force led her astray, but she always found her way back. This last time she came back, things were going in such a wonderful way for her. She loved her job, and her "Uncle" Erik Klockars giving her a real chance; and that beautiful girl came home sore and tired, but smiling ear-to-ear, while she told us about her crazy day. "It was magical for me, her mother, to see such joy and hope on my baby's face."

Unfortunately, as many may or may not know, Ariel was battling demons - demons that take thousands of lives every year. We helped; we helped and supported and did the tough love, and at last, we thought we found something that worked. She was free from those demons for over six months, but somehow, her brain thought, "a little won't hurt; it's been so long." But it did hurt . . . badly, because those demons stole my baby right out from under me. I just hold on to the dozen "I love you's" and future plans we shared the night before.

"You are loved fiercely by your father, the one who named you "Smallz." He loved his baby girl in pink; and took you everywhere and any where he went - surfing and camping at the beach, off-road trips, or just a skateboard cruise behind Tonka. Daddy is going to miss you so much."

"Yaya will always see you as that sassy little three-year-old, running like a maniac with that curly little poof of a ponytail, taking you and Tonka to the beach or riding around in her white Mustang convertible.

As for me, mom and Joe, we have no words. We loved her, supported her and gave her every opportunity we could; everything we could. We just wanted her happy and safe and feeling loved. She was half of my heart, and now it's gone. From her baby brother Jackie, "I love you more, Sissy."

In addition to her mom and dad, she is survived by her stepfather Joseph Giuliano; her brother Jack Giuliano of East Lyme; her grandparents, Victoria and Robert Guntner of Waterford, and Paul and Profetiza Ising of Waipahu, Hawaii, Jack and Margarita Giuliano of Niantic; grandmother Karol Oakes-Cassidy of Southington; grandmother Isabelle Bouvier of Nice, France; and a half-sister, Mia; and nephews, Eli and Donovan. She was predeceased by her maternal great-grandfathers, Walter VanPut of South Windsor, and Michael James Cassidy of Southington; and her grandmother Dorothy Giuliano; and great-grandparents, Fred and Dorothy Coyle of Niantic. She is also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins, the Calabash family, Hawaiian family; and too many to mention. She will be terribly missed by many,

Calling hours are Tuesday, July 19, from 2 to 4 and 5 to 7 p.m. at the Thomas L. Neilan & Sons East Lyme Funeral Home, 48 Grand Street, Niantic. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to SCAAD, 62 Coit St., New London, CT 06320.