Guillermina Santiago

“Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.”

Proverbs 31: 10 - 30

If as you traverse through life and encounter the woman of Proverbs 31, count it a great privilege and a blessing. This woman I can say with all certainty was my mother.

Guillermina Santiago was born in Mogotes, Colombia South America on June 25th, 1920 to Rosa Maria Ortiz. Although the circumstances of her birth were by far not the best, God knew her then and already had a plan for her life, and the lives of her mother and her sister, Adela. In January of 1942 at the age of 22 she left Colombia and traveled to the United Sates to serve as a nanny for a Jewish family residing in Brooklyn, New York. A few months after her arrival while sitting on a park bench in Brooklyn with the children, God placed into her life another woman from the island of Martinique who happened to speak Spanish. On becoming friends, the woman introduced her to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and invited her to the Disciples of Christ Christian Church La Hermosa situated on 110th Street in New York City. It was there, in the year 1944 as she listened to the Word of God being preached by the Reverend Pablo Cotto, that she came to the Saving Knowledge and Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and accepted Him as Savior and Lord. Her life would never be the same again. It was in La Hermosa that she met Domingo Santiago, the man God had chosen for her future. They were wed on October 11th, 1947. Also accompanying them on that day was his young son Hector Santiago, who she had the privilege of raising as her own. In June of 1950, God blessed them with a daughter who they named Dina Sulamita Santiago. In 1958 she returned to Colombia and brought her mother to New York were she too came to the Saving Knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Recently her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and family members were asked to think of words phrases or times that they remembered that best described Nani (as she was affectionately called). The following were their responses:

* Proverbs 31 Woman

* Noble

* Faithful

* A woman of Integrity

* Wise

* Beautiful

* Kind

* Happy

* Joyful

* Smart

* Inspiring. Everything about her life was so inspiring.

* Hard working woman who made her way

* Trustworthy

* Full of goodness

* Provider

* Compassionate to others

* Always willing to give shelter to the stranger and those in need

* She had a calming spirit always so welcoming when you would visit. She always struck me as a graceful woman, who wasn’t easily ruffled. Someone who enjoyed the company of others and genuinely cared.

* From the two youngest great-grandchildren: “talking to her in Spanish” and “ feeding her”

The legacy she left us can never be measured in wealth or property. The legacy she left us was a gift far more valuable. It was the gift of a Godly life, a life of faithfulness to Gods precepts; a life full of compassion and love for those in need and a life full of integrity. She lived her faith and never faltered.

This and more was my mother Guillermina Santiago. We will miss her. Until we meet again.

“Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household,and eateth not the bread of idleness

Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.” Proverbs 31:25-30

Preceded by: Domingo Santiago (Husband); Rosa Ortiz (Mother)

Survived by:

Children:

* Dina Martinez (Max Martinez)

* Hector Santiago (Ana Santiago)

Grandchildren:

* Marc A. Martinez

* Lori A. Scott (Chad R. Scott)

* David M. Matinez (Amiee D. Martinez)

Great-Grandchildren:1

* David Paul Martinez

* Lucy Alden Martinez

* Mikayla Rosa Scott

* Max Edward Scott

* Hannah Kathleen Scott

* Marc Anthony Martinez R. (MJ)

* Matthew Austin Martinez