Juana "Tata" Antonia Soto

Juana “Tata” Soto is survived by her two daughters, Melissa and Gloria; stepson Manuel Jr; brother Juan; son-in-law Donald; and six grandchildren, Apollonia, Giovanni, Mason, Boswell, Brazton, and Orel; two great-grandchildren, Luca and Enzo; and the many she nurtured along the way.

Tata grew up in San Francisco de Macorís, Dominican Republic, amongst twelve children. She was the only Deaf girl among four Deaf brothers. She came from a loving, humble, hard-working background where family was valued above all. She learned to sew at an early age and became a talented, sought-after seamstress, specializing in wedding apparel. Her skills allowed her to immigrate to the United States in her 20s, where she eventually naturalized and married, raising a family of her own.

Her crafts and passions included dancing, knitting, crocheting, cooking, novelas, and helping anyone who needed support. Tata was a fun-loving and social butterfly. She thrived in having a busy household full of positive energy, good laughs, food, drinks, and some juicy gossip. Tata was beautiful inside and out, had a natural beauty, and carried a confidence that could knock the socks off anyone who crossed her path.

She will be remembered as selfless, nurturing, and inspiring. Tata was perfectly imperfect, and even those lessons will remain with all who knew her. Her family will remember and emulate a woman who sacrificed all, even her own needs, to ensure that they never went without.

Please join us in honoring her legacy by following in her footsteps, correcting our own when we falter, and living each day as though it were our last. She is a beacon of light that will continue to light our path for generations to come.