Frances (Paquita) Santiago

Frances (Paquita) Santiago

Frances (Paquita) Santiago went to be with the Lord on February 8, 2010 after a heroic battle with cancer. A long time Erie resident, Paquita was born in Utuado, Puerto Rico September 1, 1942. She was very active in the Hispanic Community and former member of the Hispanic Society Ladies Auxiliary and was last employed with the Erie School District. She loved to cook, dance, gardening and traveling.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ramiro and Candida Cruz. Also by her brothers, Juan and Angel Cruz and her sister, Migdalia Hernandez.

She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Gabriel Santiago, Sr., three sons, Gabriel Santiago, Jr. (Nelsie), Fermin Santiago (Edna) of Erie, and David Santiago (Naoko) of Okinawa, Japan and one daughter, Mary Frances Santiago; eight brothers, Miguel (Carmen), Tomas (Ana), William (Gladys), Israel (Glenda), Alfonso (Carmen), Julio Negron (Delis), Irving Maldonado, all of Erie and Salvador (Felicita) of Hartford, CT; five sisters, Maria Cruz of Florida, Candida Gotay (Anibal), Esther Espada (Nazario), Gloria Cruz (Miguel), Iris Alberico (Matthew), of Erie. Also surviving are seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Friends are invited to call at the John R. Orlando Funeral Home, Inc., 2122 Raspberry Street, on Wednesday evening from 7 to 9 pm and Thursday from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 pm and may attend a service there on Friday at 9:30 am followed by a Funeral Mass at Saint Stephen RC Church,1237 West 21st Street, at 10 am. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

Special thanks to St. Vincent Hospital and Pleasant Ridge Manor East and West for the wonderful care that Frances (Paquita) received while there.