Nydia Santiago

It is with extreme sadness that we, the family of Nydia Santiago, announce the peaceful passing of our beautiful and loving mother on March 3, 2022. Nydia passed away at home surrounded by the love of her family at the age of 78.

Nydia was born in Humacao, Puerto Rico to Emilia and Alberto De La Cruz on Three Kings Day. As a child, Nydia and her family moved to New York City and resided on Crescent Street in the East New York section of Brooklyn. When she was a teenager, she moved with her family to Coney Island where she created countless memories that she often laughed about when sharing stories of her teenage years with her family and friends. In her adult years, Nydia lived in various parts of Brooklyn where she married and raised her children.

She was a proud graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amhurst, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. Nydia pursued a career as a school teacher and often shared memories of the creative methods she applied to educating her students. One example that she proudly recounted was when she taught her students to tell time with the reward being a Micky Mouse watch. Her students could not be more eager to learn to tell time and were ecstatic to have earned such an awesome reward.

Nydia had a passion for singing and dancing and was known for putting on a performance in her kitchen while her children and guests watched on with joy and admiration. Nydia also sang professionally on much larger stages under her stage name, “Lydia Crown”. Her soulful, yet powerful voice often left her listeners and watchers in awe when she passionately belted out some of her favorite songs, including her very own song, “Para Que No Me Olvides”. Some of Nydia’s other passions included reading, often reading 5-6 mystery books in a week, writing poetry, storytelling, making her signature Puerto Rican dishes (ensalada de pulpo, bacalao, and sopa de pollo), providing impeccable advice, and giving some of the best hugs one can imagine. Above all, Nydia adored her children, so much so, that she ended her career as an elementary school teacher and passed up a record deal to stay home and devote her time to raising her children. After sending her youngest child off to college, Nydia decided it was time to embark on a new journey as a receptionist at the Cypress Hills Senior Center where she worked with the elderly within her community for over 20 years. Nydia joyfully went to work daily where she touched many lives and earned several awards in recognition of her dedication to her community. Nydia worked at the Cypress Hills Senior Center until she relocated to Florida in 2020 to enjoy a slower paced life with her family.

Nydia was the beloved sister to Raphael, Roberto and Maria, and loving mother to her five children – Darlene, Marcial (Niurka), Paul (Xiomara), Alan (Jessica) and Melanie (Cody). Nydia was the proud grandmother to her ten grandchildren – Jessica, Joshua, Robert, Shalisa, Sharilys, Tiffany, Chasity, Alexandria, Alan, and Aaron, and to her grand pups – Bandit and Penny, and to her many loving great-grandchildren.

On March 3, 2022, Nydia showed her final act of love to her children by continuing to hold on strong until her children were able to gather by her bedside in the presence of a chaplain for a final prayer and hymn, Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone). At 2:52pm, at the exact moment the chaplain sang the final note of Amazing Grace, Nydia exhaled her last breath, giving her children one last gift; the peace that she had chosen to be with God.

We will miss our mom’s sweet smile and warm embraces. We will forever carry her in our hearts.

Visitation for Nydia's family and friends will be held on Saturday March 12th, 2022 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Star of David Memorial Gardens Cemetery and Funeral Chapel - 7701 Bailey Road, North Lauderdale, FL 33068.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 13th, 2022 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, followed by a funeral service from 2:00PM to 3:00 PM at Star of David Memorial Gardens Cemetery and Funeral Chapel - 7701 Bailey Road, North Lauderdale, FL. 33068.

A committal service will follow at Bailey Memorial (Garden of Memory) - 7801 Bailey Road North Lauderdale, FL. 33068

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.baileymemorial.com for the Santiago family.