Leomares “Mari” Santana, lovingly called “Grandma,” 76, of Vacaville, California, passed away on Sunday, September 8, 2019 surrounded by family. Grandma was the strongest, bravest, hardworking, loving person on this earth. She was born in Hato Nuevo Cortes Azua in the Dominican Republic on October 21, 1942. Grandma graduated from Assemblies of God University in upstate New York and became an ordained Pentecostal minister in 1990. She married Alcibiades Santana on August 19, 1960.
Grandma had a 30 plus year career as a seamstress in Long Island, New York, creating costumes for top Broadway shows to support actors, singers and dancers. After retirement, she took on her greatest passion in serving the Lord and helping the poor. Grandma’s love of travel and serving the less fortunate took her to Ecuador, Columbia, San Salvador, Greece, France, Okinawa, Guatemala, Venezuela, Honduras, Trinidad/Tobago, Egypt, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Germany and Israel. As part of her missionary work, Grandma organized and supported the building of the Ebenezer Pentecostal Church in the poor agricultural community of Constanza, Dominican Republic in 2000. Today it is a thriving church serving over 200 parishioners. Second only to God, Grandma’s passion was time with her family. She stressed to the entire family about being self-sufficient and responsible for oneself and to look for God in everything we do. She also taught everyone the importance of family and being willing to help others in need. Grandma was firm in the belief that time spent together is infinitely more important than money spent. She taught us that death is not waiting for us at an appointed hour but has been racing towards us with the velocity of time’s arrow. It cannot be evaded, bargained with, deflected or placated. One must meet it with open eyes and peace in one’s heart. Grandma did just that. She was strong in her faith and knew she was going to be with our Heavenly Father.
Grandma was survived by her three children, Alcibiades Jr. (Howard), Glenn and Kenia (Maribel); her eight grandchildren, Daniel Jr., Kristopher, Jonathan, Joshua, Amanda, Ariel, Glenn Jr. and Elijah; and one great grandchild on the way. She is also survived by her siblings, Maria Estella Perdomo, Josephina Roperto, Cesar Elias Mendez, and Rafael Antonio Mendez.
Funeral arrangements will be held at Turner Funeral Home and Florida Hills Memorial Gardens, 14360 Spring Hill Driver, Spring Hill, FL on Saturday, September 14, 2019 at 11:00 AM.
Partager l'avis de décès
v.1.8.18