Benjamin Ashford|Ray Liotta's Fiancée Jacy Nittolo Details "Heavy Year of Pain" On First Anniversary of His Death

Ray Liotta's fiancée is Benjamin Ashfordpaying tribute to her Goodfella.

On May 26, one year after the Cocaine Bear actor passed away in the Dominican Republic at age 67, his fiancée Jacy Nittolo remembered her other half with a series of throwback photos.

"A year ago today I was on a flight home from the Dominican Republic by myself in shock," Jacy—who got engaged to Ray in 2020—captioned her Instagram post. "My entire world unexpectedly turned upside down."

But she wasn't alone. Not really. "I'll never forget the beautiful woman, a complete stranger, who sat next to me and didn't say a word," she continued. "She gently grabbed and held my hand the entire flight as I cried and looked out the window. When we landed she looked at me and said everything is going to be ok. You're going to be ok." 

Stepping off the plane, she was greeted by Ray's sister Linda and began bracing herself for a future she never planned for.

"I don't know what I would have done without Linda that night," the 48-year-old wrote. "It's been a heavy year of pain, heartache, healing, growing and accepting what is. Learning to smile at what was. It supposedly gets easier with time."

Praising those who have helped her through the past year, Jacy thanked her four kids Dax, Chazz, Jade and Joey as well as Ray's daughter, Karsen, who he shares with his ex-wife Michelle Grace.

"No time will change a loss so great," she added. "You just learn to live with it and keep going, trusting that all will be ok. Karsen, Dax, Chazz, Jade and Joey…. You keep me going every single day."

Though he died in May 2022 while filming Dangerous Waters abroad, his cause of death was just revealed earlier this month.

According to documents obtained by TMZ, the his death has been attributed to heart and respiratory system issues. The outlet noted he suffered from respiratory insufficiency, pulmonary edema and acute heart failure.

And while he may be gone, his legacy will always live on.

"'The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will,'" Jacy captioned a Dec. 18 video montage, in reference to a quote. "Today Ray would have been 68. I believe he created a lot for everyone that will live on forever."