So sorry to hear the passing of your husband and father. I will always remember what a wonderful and blessed couple you were.  He seemed like a great husband and father which reflects in all of your children I will miss seeing him at social events. He left behind a kind and beautiful wife and family.

My Tata and I had a very unique special bond/relationship. I can sit here and share the memories about how he attended every graduation, every awards ceremony (sports and school). Not only was my Tata there for me during the times of celebration but also the times that mattered the most. My Tata supported me and was by my side when I had cancer, when I broke my arm in a car accident.  I could tell my Tata anything and he never placed judgement, shame or guilt. He loved me unconditionally.
My most favorite and cherished memories will always be when I would visit every other week and spend time with him at the table. At that table is where he would share stories with me (as I ate Nana’s chorizo con juevos, delicious btw). Stories about his child hood and him growing up. Stories about how he met my Nana and their relationship. Stories about raising his children and visiting my cousins in various cities and states. Stories about his comadres and compadres. At that table I would watch him write Christmas cards to every single family member and write in everyone’s birthday card. My Tata never forgot a birthday.  He had a way of making everyone feel special.  My Tata was a family man and an amazing friend. My Tata would make friends with anyone and everyone; a true socialite.
My Tata was a 1st generation Mexican American. What a success story he was. My Tata inspired me to learn more about my culture and to complete college. Most importantly he has taught me to be hard working, know my priorities (God, family and friends 1st), to be kind, generous, loving, compassionate and how to live a life filled with joy and integrity. He is one of the reasons I am who I am today. I love being a Montenegro. He will live in my heart forever. I pray I continue to make him proud. I love you Tata...till we meet again. 

Your granddaughter,
Victoria Montenegro

I have great memories of Santos who was always very easy to talk too and shared many stories with me and my dad. I appreciated him and Nellie always making an effort to visit us when they were in the area. He will be missed by all of us.

Rick Amescua

A very cool memory I have is making the road trip to Canoga Park from Texas with two of my buddies after high school graduation. Being the young energetic cats we were back then, of course we showed up to Tata’s door at a cool 5:00am and he answered the door as if the day was half done. His hair perfect, jeans on, baseball sleeve on and cowboy boots ready for whatever he had planned and drinking his coffee. Nana of course jumped in the kitchen and whipped up a five star breakfast. We sat outside in the front yard on the picnic table and ate breakfast and talked for awhile and you could see the joy he had with us being there. My buddies could not stop talking about how great Nana and Tata were. Our Nana wanted to make sure we were safe in our travels and wanted to know what time we would be back for dinner (trust me we were never late for dinner... Nana and Tata would always speak of my friends legend regarding there appetites and not leaving a single taco out on the table, the Montenegro family knows the joy Nana and Tata have in seeing full stomachs) and Tata wanted to remind us of which highways to use and or avoid.... always a plus in the good ole days without gps. To tag on to my brothers memory... Tata was the ultimate social butterfly. 

My Tata was a huge part of my growing up. In my early yesterday I think I spent more time at his house than my own. My fondest memories are driving around in his Ford pickup, listening to 8 tracks. Freddy Fender and Vicente Fernandez stand out most of all. Drinking 7up and eating peanuts. Cruising Canoga visiting his friends and Brothers. I love him very much and I will miss him more than anyone could know. See you on the other side someday. I love you Tata.

Tata was a great neighbor.  There are so many great memories of things like camping, but I’m also remembering the little things.  I remember that he seemed to take care of all the neighbors on Glade Ave in Canoga.  He kept the neighborhood nice and it was never the same after he left.  I remember how he would visit us in Tennessee and after a few days we would find him making friends and talking to neighbors that we never bothered to know.  He was a social butterfly and a good neighbor.  

To my loving Nana, Tata was such an amazing man, grandfather, great-grandfather, father and husband. Seeing how hard he worked for the 25 years i have known him is such a blessing in itself. I truly will miss you Tata. Say hi to papa , uncle bobby and uncle dickey for me. i will cherish every single moment i  had with you growing up into my adult years. I love you so much.  I promise to be there for Nana. Here is just one of the moments i will cherish forever , the day i graduated high school in 2012, your smile will forever be with me. 

OBITUARY

Santos Montenegro

November 1, 1931 – July 4, 2020

Gates, Kingsley & Gates Praiswater Mortuary

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