Natividad ‘Nati’ Ruiz, age 67, of Brownwood passed peacefully, with family by her side on September 13, 2025. A visitation will be held at Heartland Funeral Home on Thursday, September 18 at 6 PM with the rosary beginning at 7 PM. A funeral mass will be held at St. Mary Queen of Peace in Brownwood on Friday, at 10 AM.

Nati was born on September 7, 1958, in Navasota, Texas to Braulio and Carmen Castaneda Arriaga. She was the youngest of ten children in the family. She attended Crystal City Highschool. While living in Crystal City, Texas, Nati met and married the love of her life, her devoted husband, Augustin Ruiz and the two were blessed with three children. Nati was a hard worker and was a blessing to her family as a homemaker.

Augustin and Nati are members of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Brownwood. Nati enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, watching movies, crocheting, all genres of music and sitting on the front porch enjoying the sunlight. Most of all, she loved spending time with family.

Nati is survived by her husband, Augustin Ruiz; her children, Christian Ruiz (Christi), Angelica Ruiz (Rene) and Rolando Ruiz; grandchildren, Marcus Ruiz (Grace), Fernando Ruiz (Esmeralda), Jacob Ruiz (Shelby), Arianna Ruiz, Alexia Ruiz, Vicente Ruiz, Tyler Ruiz and Ayla Ruiz; siblings, Maximo Arriaga (Juanita), Rebecca Bauer, Emilia Gonzalez (Balerano), Jose Arriaga (Angel), Juliana Navejar and Arnulfo Arriaga, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Nati was preceded in death by both of her parents; her sister, Virginia Alvarado; brothers, Antonio Arriaga and Braulio Arriaga Jr.

Condolences, memories, and tributes can be offered to the Ruiz family online at heartlandfuneralhome.com