Dios te bendiga. The literal meaning is “may God bless you.” The phrase was spoken often Thursday as family and guests remembered Guatemalan teen Juan Oxlaj Gonzalez during a memorial service in Rome at Fred Talley’s Parkview Chapel.

Gonzalez, 18, died at a hospital in Atlanta a week ago, after his heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy stopped producing sufficient blood to the rest of his body. He was diagnosed in November.

After his initial diagnosis he spent a few months at Redmond Regional Medical Center and was later taken to Atlanta.

“He got respect from everyone and was a good boy,” said his father, Pascual Alvarez, through an interpreter.

His parents said they prayed for his memory to be honored and that he was the reason they could come here.

His parents were brought to the U.S., after Redmond officials and Congressman Phil Gingrey helped arrange for them to be flown to the U.S. from Guatemala to be with their son.

Juan had left his parents and five siblings and came to the U.S. to work in Carters­­­ville and earn money to send back to his family.

Salbador Sandobal, his uncle, was his guardian and helped him find a job to help support his family.

“It’s very sad,” he said.

But, he recalled the joy of telling Juan his family had arrived from Guatemala during his stay at Redmond.

“When they came (I said) a visitor was here,” he said. “It was his parents, and he was very happy, and when I told him, he was surprised they could see him.”

Local resident Ana Williamon, a volunteer interpreter for Juan, explained that a viewer made a $100,000 donation for a heart transplant after Juan’s story was made public.

She estimated that around 300 to 400 people supported him and donated money, food and prayers while he was in the hospital.

“He was pure,” she said. “When he smiled it would fill your heart, and (you would say), ‘Why am I complaining today?’ and it really touched a lot of people.”

Williamon also said that a philanthropist who gave money in hopes of Juan getting a heart transplant would donate a home for the family in Guatemala. His body will be taken back to Guatemala for burial.