Mirna Elena Santiago

This is a brief obit about love – the kind of love that spills over, brimming over the top, sticky and messy, and on taste delicious. This is an obit about my mother, Mirna Elena Santiago, a Cuban immigrant born, 87 years old, beloved mother, adored wife and one helluva, kick ass fierce woman for the ages. Rather than detail her birth in Cuba, incredible childhood raised by my beautiful grandmother and her tight knit family, we will share she channeled her indominable spirit to flee her home island and start a new life in United States at 21 with her husband, mother, and two-year-old daughter. Over the years, here in the land of opportunity, she sold Avon, worked at factories and side hustled to support a full American life for her three children, Lillian, Louis and Karen. Then one day, lightning struck, and she met the star to her moon, her adoring husband of 44 years, William "Willie" Santiago. They blended his family of seven – Sandy, William Jr, Danny, Thomas, Edward, Norberto and Rolando and we were off to the races. Mirna and Willie kicked off a life adventure of businesses, travel and love unlike none other. They were tethered to each other, inextricably tied through deep connection and their utter devotion to each other. We, their children, savored our ordinary and special times together, dancing, eating and retelling the same old stories a bit grander every time. Alzheimer robbed her in her last years but that was no deterrent for Willie who took care of her so lovingly until the very end. Our mother was singular and without parallel. She feared nothing and squeezed opportunity out of the most challenging life moments. She was a lioness, on guard to protect her family and those she loved, and reminded those who were unkind or ungracious, "I am an American citizen". She loved tenaciously, abundantly wrapped in her special cackle, raspy voice and high speed "I can do it" attitude. She leaves a wake of ache and loss but omigosh, we are so blessed to have loved and be loved by her. Rest in power, Mom. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to our local Planned Parenthood or charity of your choice. Mirna is survived by her husband, William T Santiago, and her three children, Lillian (Eileen); Louis (Mindy) and his sons, Nico and Damian, and Karen; her children, Joshua, Ian and Kaitlin and great granddaughter, Frankie, She also survived by step children, Sandy (Charles Ian) ; William Santiago (Ivette) and their daughters, Ivana and Angelica; Danny and his daughters, Elena, Gina, Augustina. & 4 great grandchildren Lilly, Maverick, Issac, Layla; Thomas (Christine) and their children, Vanilla & Thomas, Jr. & great granddaughter Vienna; Edward Santiago & Fiancé Jim Hooker; Norberto (Stephanie) and their son, Viktor ; Rolando (Christina ) and their daughter, Sarah & grandson Jackson.