Gloria "Ma" and "Babe" Maria Arauz Santana

Gloria Santana, 62, was called home suddenly to heaven on May 11, 2016, in Orange Park, Florida. A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, May 15, 2016, at Hardage-Giddens ,Town and Country Funeral Home, 7242 Normandy Boulevard, Jacksonville Florida, 32205, from 6-8pm.

A formal Military service will be held at the Orange Park Naval base, in Jacksonville FL, on Monday, May 16, 2016 at 10 am.

Gloria, aka “Ma” was born on May 31st, 1953 in Queens, New York. She was one of four children, two brothers, Hector and Jimmy and a little sister, Alicia. She was proud of her Puerto Rican Heritage, but even more proud to be an American. She served her country in the Air Force for seven years, and twenty-eight years in the Civil Services for both the Air Force and the Navy.

On February 22, 1975, she married the love of her life Bernardo Santana Jr. in, Cheyenne, Wyoming. Her Military service led her to become a world traveler, she was proud to serve our country. She was most proud, however, of her son Bernardo Santana III.

Gloria Santana touched many lives, wherever she went. She had an infectious laugh and a zest for life that could light up your day. Her “tough-guy” attitude could not hide the fact that her heart was even bigger than her love for the Yankees, and as the great Yogi Berra once said, ”It ain’t over ‘til it’s over,” and this new heavenly journey home has only just begun.

Gloria is survived by her husband, Bernardo Santana Jr., her son, Bernardo Santana III, and her two granddaughters Dominique, 21, and Jaylani, 6, and she is loved by many people, from all walks of life, all over the world.