Rapper Fat Joe is mourning the loss of his mother, Marie Del-Carmen Cartagena, less than three months after the death of his father, Ernesto Cartagena. She was 77 years old.
The Bronx native announced her death on Saturday, May 3, through a post on Instagram, where he shared photos and memories of her.
He described her as the backbone of their family and a woman who gave everything she had, even when she didn’t have much.
Marie was well-known in her community. Despite her son’s success, she chose to remain in the housing projects where she raised her family.
Fat Joe said she loved her neighborhood and refused to leave because of the people and memories she held dear. She supported his music career from the start and always asked about his close friends and fellow artists, including members of the Terror Squad.
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Her passing comes shortly after the death of her husband, Ernesto Cartagena, who died in February at the age of 89. The couple had been together for 60 years.
Fat Joe believes his mother died of a broken heart, unable to live without the man she spent most of her life with.
In his post, he shared how hard he tried to keep her going after his father’s death. But in the end, he said, she was at peace and seemed ready to be with her husband again. In the post he wrote:
“This a real one, rest in peace to the woman who brought me in this world. She didnt have much but she gave us everything. Anyone who knows my Mom knows she had a heart of gold, she refused to move out the projects for many years even though i had money. She loved her community, she loved her people,Ms Ruby the Terror Squad Queen. she was sooooooo proud of us meaning everyone in the crew. She asked about Remy , Khaled , Rich, Terrell everyday. I have to give thank’s to the father my God for letting me have her in my life this long, truth is she died of a broken heart 60 years with a man and he recently just died, my Dad wanted her with him. I tried everything humanly possible. she was happy, to the Castro family, the Cartagena family, the Delgado family i love you and thank you for the outpouring of love. Mommy till i see you again you were my world, my heart, my everything. I’ll continue to make you proud 🙏🏽❤️🕊️ Marie Del-Carmen Cartagena.”
This loss follows a series of personal tragedies for Fat Joe. In 2023, his longtime friend and Terror Squad member Raul Conde passed away unexpectedly. Months later, his older brother, Angel Cartagena, died just after Thanksgiving.
With his father gone earlier this year, the death of his mother marks yet another painful moment for the rapper.
Fat Joe ended his tribute by thanking his extended family and fans for their support during this time. He promised to continue living in a way that would make his mother proud.
