Corazon L. Santos

Corazon Luistro Santos also known to many as "Cora" was born on August 23, 1942 in Taal, Batangas, Philippines. She was the 12th child of 16 children born to Jose and Romana Luistro. Her family owned a restaurant and each child had their specific chores in helping run the restaurant. Her parents and older sisters were in charge of the cooking and cleaning, while the brothers did the shopping. However, Cora had a special role; she was the hostess who would use her charm and friendly personality to invite people to eat at their restaurant. Her mom then encouraged her to join a beauty pageant in which she would go on to win several pageants and her contribution to the family was her share of the prize monies won in these beauty pageants.

Cora earned a teaching degree at National Teachers College in Manila, Philippines. By then the family had move to Manila to provide their children with more job opportunities in the city. In Tondo, she taught elementary school and she met the love of her life, Norberto “Bobby” Santos. After several years of dating and her sisters as chaperones for every date, they found the time to elope in September 1966 before Bobby joined the Navy. After a brief stint oversees, Bobby returned home for their grand wedding on January 24, 1967.

Their first daughter Josephine was born in the Philippines in 1968 and they relocated to Agana, Guam before migrating to Jacksonville, Florida where their son, Robert was born in 1971. Ironically, having never cooked in their family restaurant, Cora began to experiment with cooking using her family’s recipes. She turned out to be an excellent cook and began selling saipao, dinuguan, pandesal and other favorite Filipino dishes in Florida. Cora also worked part time at Pic N' Save as a store clerk while her children were in school.

In 1975, Bobby was stationed in Long Island, New York. Cora was excited about the move, as she would be closer to her mom and siblings who resided in New Jersey. Every weekend, the families got together and planned many trips, often traveling by caravan to different parts of the United States to visit other siblings who lived in North Dakota, Maryland, Canada and California. The bond between Cora and her siblings are undeniably a close family, thus making the Luistro’s such a close-knit family. Cora and her sisters would talk several times a week on a four-way call so it was almost impossible to keep a secret in her family. While in Long Island Cora worked as a bank clerk for a European Bank company.

In 1978, Bobby retired from the Navy after 20 years of service and decided to move the family out west to San Diego, California to be closer to his sister, Isabelita and her husband, Rene. Rene and Bobby were able to petition for his two brothers, Tony and Hermie, to come to America. This resulted in having over 40 Santos now residing in the United States. Cora had many nieces and nephews from both sides of the family and was often dubbed their favorite Aunt.

San Diego became Cora’s home for over 45 years. When she arrived in San Diego, she was able to connect with lifelong friends from the military who also retired in San Diego area. She worked briefly at the Navy Exchange before working for the San Diego County Retirement Office as an Administrative Clerk for over 20 years. Many of her friends from the County have become her lifelong friends whom she continued to keep in touch with and named themselves the Crazy Corp Group. Their get togethers were always fun and Cora always looked forward to attending. Cora was also one of the founding members of the Divine Mercy in San Diego. She and her best friends, Pat and Mila, would attend weekly prayers at hundreds of peoples home for the Divine Mercy novena.

After retirement, Cora, would travel to many international countries with family and friends. She also enjoyed going on cruises. Because of her large family, she attended numerous milestone birthdays, weddings, and reunions. Another hobby she enjoyed was gambling and going to the casino. She would often go with family or friends, Anita and Pat. Cora’s schedule was always jam-packed.

Many will remember Cora for her contagious laugh and smile, her tantalizing eyes, her feisty personality and her many pinches, whether it was with her fingers or toes, she always did it with a laugh. Her sense of humor brought so many smiles to those who knew her. Cora was a one of a kind friend who had such a big personality and a generous heart. She would often open her home to family and friends who needed a place to stay and would always make everyone feel welcome.

Cora was a great mother to both her children Josephine and Robert. She was tough as nails when raising them, always the disciplinarian, but, made them strong willed and strong minded. She treasured her time most with her grandchildren. Her laughter, jokes, and expressions were priceless and the greatest gift. As her friends and family would say, she was always the “Brightest Light in the Room.”

Cora is survived by her husband, Bobby, daughter Josephine, son-in-law Rob, former daughter-in-law Joy, and her grandchildren, Brandon, Jillian, Jamie and Ava Jade; along with her brother, Jose (and Erlinda) Luistro of Sacramento, California, sisters, Zenaida (and Joe) Hernandez of Toronto, Canada, Prescilla (and Abelardo) Santos of Jersey City, New Jersey and sister Evelyn of Toronto, Canada and numerous nephews and nieces and an abundance of friends.

Cora was preceded in death by her son, Robert (09/22/2023), her parents, Jose and Romana, and siblings, Artemio, Luis, Maria, Rosario, Gloria, Apolinario, Rufino, Antonio, Teresita, Dante and Dorothy.

Visitation for Corazon will be held Wednesday, April 10, 2024 and Thursday, April 11, 2024 from 4:00-9:00 pm at Funeraria Del Angel Chula Vista, 753 Broadway, Chula Vista, CA 91910.

A funeral service will occur Friday, April 12, 2024 from 11:30 am–12:30 pm at St Michael’s Catholic Church, 2543 Homedale Street, San Diego, CA 92139. A committal service to follow at 2:15 pm-2:45 pm at Miramar National Cemetery, 5795 Nobel Drive, San Diego, CA 92122.