Dr. Belito J. Arana
Dr. Belito J. Arana, of Amherst, New York passed away on July 14, 2026.
Family & friends are cordially invited to attend Dr. Arana’s Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, August 1, 2026 at 9:30 am in St. Leo the Great Church, 885 Sweet Home Road Amherst, NY 14226.
“Go mu youraby amule go lidan peace I pray that God has prepared a youreautiful resting place for buguya. Hisove buguya Elo.”
“Belito, they say time heals, but I have learned it is not about healing. It is about learning to carry you with me. I will miss and love you forever.” Sophia
“I hope you are at peace; I hope you are happy. I will always love you, miss you and never forget you.” -Michael
“Thank you for the memories and the lessons. You will be missedand I will carry your memories always” – Elizabeth
Uncle Belito, though we cannot hold your hand, we hold your memories close instead. Your wisdom, your smile, and your love will forever live within our hearts-
fly high, Uncle Belito” -Belize
“Today we remember you in all your humanity, for all your strengths, struggles,accomplishments, and the complicated legacy you leave behind. You will be remembered. Rest in peace” – Alicia, Anelly and Anrew
“We celebrate your life and accomplishments, Belito, and pray that you find peace that you have searched for” – Nicole and family”
Love from Judy, Bernie, and family
suzie and family,
Aisha
If you knew him, you know he does not need the spotlight; he shows up. Belito we will miss you beyond words.
The Arana family sincerely appreciates your prayers, support and love at this time.
Please consider sharing a favorite memory and signing the on-line guest book at TheDietrichFuneralHome.com
Arrangements by the Dietrich Funeral Homes, Inc. 2480 Kensington Avenue Amherst New York 14226. (716) 839-2818.
Uncle Belito your memories will always live through our hearts , fly high with the angels my beloved Uncle. Wasati bemeri.
Fly high my uncle we all miss you,we love you being average.. sleep in peace wasting bemeri.
Fly high my uncle,we love you ,we will miss you,Beba ameragou, we will surely miss you,Wasati Beimeri..sleep in peace.amen
Fly high uncle..RIP
I will always remember when you visited home in Belize, you make much of everyone you met. I will forever cherish those moments. Rest peace uncle Belito. Rolany
“The song is ended, but the melody lingers on”.
RIP My Dear Uncle Dr. Belito J. Arana. Fly high with the Angels😇 From Your Neice Cynthia an Her Children Rolany, Davisha, Roshaine and Kia. Rest In Perfect Peace Uncle, We Love You❤️🕊🕊
I will always cherish you my dear uncle, your kindness will be remembered. Continue to rest in peace uncle Belito. Your niece Cynthia.
On behalf of the Waite family, we extend our deepest sympathy on the loss of your husband, Belito. May the cherished memories you shared bring you comfort and strength in the days ahead. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Wishing you and your family peace, comfort, and many blessings. We love you 🥰 ❤️🙏🏾
REST IN PEACE DAD! Fly high and say hello to Grandma, and Grandpa, Uncle Urby, Mighty K, and Uncle Noral up there in Heaven. No doubt you all will be having a great time up there for eternity and I will see you guys when God decides to send me there. I will work hard and continue the Arana legacy of hard work and achievement through adversity. Thank you for loving Brooke and welcoming her into the family. She will never forget the kindness you showed her.
It is with a heavy heart that I learned of the passing of Dr. Belito J. Arana of Amherst, New York on July 14, 2026.
I came to know Dr. Belito through his son, Michael, who is a very close friend and brother to me. I first met him during Michael’s graduation, and over the years he and his family welcomed me into their home for Thanksgiving on two consecutive occasions. Those moments remain special to me.
Dr. Belito was a man full of positive energy and deep thoughts. He was an excellent conversationalist and an even better listener. He always took time to encourage the young people around him to pursue education and to strive for excellence in their professional paths.
His kindness, wisdom, and quiet strength left a lasting impression on me.
May his soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.
Our father’s story began in Seine Bight, a small village in Belize, where opportunities were limited but his ambitions were not. From modest beginnings, he worked with determination, intelligence, and discipline to become a doctor. That achievement alone says something important about him: he believed that a person’s circumstances did not have to define the limits of their life.
He dreamed big — for himself, and especially for his children. He believed deeply in education and learning. To him, knowledge was not only a path to a profession; it was a way to open up the world. He taught us to aim high, to think for ourselves, and to understand that
learning could carry us beyond the places we started.
Some of our most treasured memories are the simple ones. As children, he taught us how to ride a bike, how to play cricket, and how to sit across from him at a chessboard and think several moves ahead.Bedtime stories were created entirely from his own imagination. Those
stories carried us into worlds only he could invent, and they remain among the gifts we will always remember. He could be very silly and had a good sense of humour. When tasked with building or putting together something new, he would always put the directions aside saying “instructions are for fools!”
, only to a short while later be seen surreptitiously reading said instructions.
He loved country music and long roadtrips,we have many memories of
meandering drives in England, the U.S. and Canada, enduring (and secretly enjoying) entire Randy Travis albums.
As a Black doctor from a tiny country in Central America, our father moved through spaces that were not always ready to welcome him. He had to claim his place, often in rooms where he
was required to prove himself in ways others were not. Through that, he taught us something about courage: that bravery is not always loud or easy. Sometimes it is simply continuing
forward, holding your head up, and refusing to let the world make you smaller.
Our father was also complicated. Our relationship with him was complicated. And we want to honour that truth with honesty and grace. A person’s life is rarely simple, and family love can hold many things at once — gratitude and hurt, admiration and distance, tenderness and
unanswered questions. We do not need to pretend that everything was easy in order to recognize that his life mattered and that he shaped ours. What remains is the impact he had on us. He broadened our sense of what was possible. He
passed on a belief in education, imagination, perseverance, and courage. He gave us memories that still make us smile and lessons that continue to guide us. He was a doctor, a dreamer, a
storyteller, a father, and a man whose journey carried him far from where he began.
Today, we remember him in all his humanity — for his strengths, his struggles, his accomplishments, and the complicated legacy he leaves behind. He will be remembered. May he rest in peace.
It is with heavy hearts that our dear Belito has passed. He is rejoicing with our Lord. I have been so beyond blessed to be able to spend time with Belito and Sophia. I will never forget our daily phone calls and always asking how Michael and I are doing. You always asked how my drive was to Buffalo and always safe travels home. You will be remembered and celebrated with years to come. We continue to pray for you and the family. You will definitely be missed dearly. With all my love, may he rest in peace.
Uncle Belito you may be gone but you will never be forgotten. Your love and memories will live in our hearts forever. Fly high and rest in eternal peace uncle Wasati bemeri. ❤️
Fly high uncle, God has a plan for you. Go sleep in peace 🕊.