Ray Liotta’s fiancee, Jacy Nittolo, is candid about grieving a year after the actor’s sudden death.
This friends The star died in his sleep on May 26, 2022, in the Dominican Republic at the age of 67. Nittolo, 48, shared photos of him spending time with Liotta on Instagram on Friday, recounting his experiences in the past year since Liotta’s death.
“One year ago today, on my way home from the Dominican Republic, I was alone in shock. My whole world was unexpectedly turned upside down,” she recalled. “I’ll never forget the beautiful, complete stranger who sat next to me who didn’t say a word. She gently grabbed and held my hand the entire flight as I cried and looked out the window.”
“He looked at me when we landed and said everything would be fine. You’ll be fine,” Nittolo continued. “I got off the plane and met Ray’s sister for a connecting flight to Los Angeles, and I don’t know what I would have done without Linda that night.”
“It’s been a heavy year of pain, heartache, healing, growth and acceptance. Learning to smile at what is,” Nittolo said.
“It supposedly gets easier over time,” he added. “Never can replace such a great loss. Just learn to live with it and carry on with the confidence that everything will be alright.”
She said Liotta’s daughter Karsen and her four children from a previous marriage (Dax, Chazz, Jade and Joey) “keep me going every day.” Nittolo also shared that her grandmother, who helped raise her, also died on the same day 20 years ago: “She was the other love of my life and one of my all-time favourites. Both on September 26.”
Don’t miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up to date with the best PEOPLE has to offer, from compelling celebrity news to compelling stories that engage people.
Last year, two days after Liotta’s death, Nittolo wrote on Instagram: “My life has been nothing short of truly magical over the past few years.”
“Ray and I share a deep love that I will cherish in my heart forever. We laughed every day and were inseparable. Chemistry was crazy at best,” she wrote. “She was everything in the world to me, and we couldn’t get enough of each other. The kind of true love one dreams of. She was the most beautiful person I’ve ever known… and that’s an understatement.”