Obituary of Maria Santiago

Maria Santiago, 86, of Willow Road, formerly of Amsterdam, passed away Friday, February 8, 2008, at her home with her family by her side. She was born in Yauco, Puerto Rico December 12, 1921 a daughter of the late Celestino and Carmela Ruiz Rivera. Maria moved to the Amsterdam area in 1965. She was a communicant of St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church in Amsterdam. She married Luis Santiago in April of 1939, he, predeceased her on July 27, 1999. In her earlier years, Maria loved to dance, although, her recent hobbies included playing dominos and Spanish card games. She was a homemaker who very much enjoyed caring for her family, especially, her grandchildren. In recent years, Maria relocated to Florida, residing in Galway or Amsterdam during her summers. Her loving family includes her five sons; Luis of Amsterdam, Noel of Puerto Rico, Manuel of Amsterdam, Alfredo of Amsterdam, and Jeffrey of Dominican Republic, her five daughters; Hayde Montalvo of Amsterdam, Elba Cruzado of Ocala, Rosa Lopez of Ocala, Lucy Sartin of Galway, and Ester Wingfall of Ocala, and her sister, Isabel Montalva of Puerto Rico. Thirty-three grandchildren, over fifty great-grandchildren and several nieces, nephews and cousins also survive. In addition to her parents and her husband, Maria was predeceased by a son, Baltazar Santiago in 1982. Funeral Services will be at 8:15AM on Thursday, February 14, 2008 at Betz, Rossi and Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Avenue, Amsterdam, NY. The Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 9:15 at St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church, 52 Grove St., Amsterdam. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. The family will receive relatives and friends on Wednesday evening from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the funeral home. Contributions in Maria's memory may be made to St. Michael's Church Memorial Fund, 52 Grove St., Amsterdam, NY 12010.