Lou Beatrice De Santiago

Lou De Santiago On October 9th, 2011 Lou went Home to be with the Lord. She was born in New Mexico but lived most of her life in El Paso. Lou received Bachelor's and Master's Degrees from UTEP's Education Department and was employed by EPISD - first teaching elementary grades at Western Hills and Coldwell Schools, and then serving as a high school counselor at Jefferson, Austin, and El Paso High. She ended her career teaching 3rd grade at Loma Linda School in the Anthony, NM district. Lou's passion for teaching about government led to her participation in the Wake Forest University study program for Law Related Education. She became a summer instructor of teachers for the Taft Institute at Abilene Christian University and took many groups of students to visit our nation's capitol and Boston. Lou encouraged students to apply for National Hispanic Institute programs around the country and led their Collegiate World Series. She was named Teacher of the Year by the Texas Social Studies Council, and was a past president and honoree of the local organization. Lou was especially proud of her 23-year association with the HACER program of Ronald McDonald House, through which hundreds of local students have received college scholarships. She was active in the Westside Women's Republican Party, was a member of Money Maker's Investment Club, sang in the choir at St. Patrick's Cathedral, and organized trips throughout North America for local social studies teachers. She was preceded in death by her parents, Antonia V. and Benito De Santiago; sister, Beatrice De Santiago and brother, Luis De Santiago. Lou is survived by her sisters, Mary Quesada of Bernalillo, NM, Veronica Carrasco and husband Jesus of Ontario, CA; nieces, Yvette Carrasco, Monique Taraddei and husband Paul and Melissa Quesada; nephews, Michael Quesada and wife Andrea, Arturo Quesada, Dominic Carrasco, Jesus Flores and wife Erika; several great nieces and nephews; Goddaughters, Merissa Quesada and Jeannie L. Castillo. In our hearts she will always be and our memories will never cease. Rosary services will be held on Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at 7pm at Harding -Orr & McDaniel. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 10:30am at St. Patrick's Cathedral with Father Richard Matty officiating. Burial will follow at Memory Gardens of the Valley Cemetery, Santa Teresa, NM. Serving as Pallbearers will be Ryan Quintana, Angelo Taraddei, Merissa Quesada, Juan F. Castillo, Enrique Castillo and Robert Castillo. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made toward Education Department scholarships at the University of Texas at El Paso. Services entrusted to Harding-Orr & McDaniel Funeral Home, 320 Montana Avenue 915-533-1646. Please visit online register book at www.FunerariaDelAngelHarding.com