Luz Maria Santiago

Luz Maria was a devoted mother who dedicated her life to caring for her family as a stay home mother, meeting each season with steady resilience and a deep, abiding faith. Her days were shaped by devotion to church, reading the Bible, and prayer—quiet practices that guided her and offered strength to those who knew and loved her.

Those closest to her will remember how she could brighten a room with joy and laughter, and how her home remained a welcoming place for all. She carried an adventurous spirit into the simple and the extraordinary alike—traveling, sightseeing, walking, and seeking out new conversations with the ease of someone who truly enjoyed meeting people where they were.

A gifted photographer, Luz Maria was also famously photogenic, and her home was filled with photos—moments she captured with care and pride, each one a reflection of the people and places that mattered most. In her own words, she often encouraged others to hold on to the moment: “Take another picture” and “tirar mas fotos.”

Luz Maria was married and later divorced from Jose Manuel Perez (deceased). She is survived by her son, Nefthali Perez; her grandchildren, Nelia Perez and Neeko Perez; and siblings. She was preceded in death by her son, Manuel Perez.

She will be remembered as deeply beloved—faithful in spirit, strong through life’s changes, and generous in the way she opened her heart and her home. Her legacy lives on in the family she cherished, the warmth she shared, and the countless memories preserved through the photographs she left behind.