Zoraida Santiago

Zoraida Santiago was a powerful woman. Growing up in Ponce, Puerto Rico in poverty and struggle, she turned her experience as the eldest daughter of 9 into life lessons of love, duty, hard-work, and family above all else. Zoraida, affectionately called "Tata" and "Mama" by her family, and "Zory" by the community, was a daughter, sister, mother, grandmother and soon to be great-grandmother. Each role she fulfilled with pride and dignity, asserting herself in small ways that would show family members young and old alike the power of pride in one's self and in their family. Zoraida could always be found helping family. If someone needed a place to stay, a bedroom in her small Brooklyn apartment would be offered. If food was needed, she would cook it. Besides her kindness, Tata was known for her skills in the kitchen. Her food was second to only her mother's, much to the delight of those around her. So much so, that in her later years, Tata would make food to sell, specifically pasteles, which were a particularly popular item. Big servings and happy stories with a room full of loud people were always seen around Zoraida. She kept her family close and those dear to her could always expect the warmest of greetings and the most loving care. She was known as a head-strong and free-spirited woman; loving to dance, to sing, to express herself and her indepence, and loved a good party. As a matriarch she was known for being fair but firm, always sticking to her word and ideals. In her youth she enjoyed performing in plays and enjoyed the theater. Other than her family, she loved traditional Puerto Rican cuisine and dress. She made it a point to teach certain traditions to her grandchildren, always commenting on traditional food and music that she would see on TV. Zoraida faced especially difficult challenges as a migrant to mainland America to work in textile factories, arriving in New York and calling it her home until her passing on July 27th, 2021 at 7:31 PM. She is predeceased by her husband Edison Santiago, her mother Gloria Santiago Molina, and her father Miguel Bauza. Zoraida is survived by 8 siblings: Nelson "Chino", Miguel "Negro", Julia "Sondy", Maria "Charin", Anna "Betty", Dionicia "Mima", Ariel, and Nancy; 4 children and their spouses: Yesenia and Tony, Edison, Ernie, and Adrian and Migdalia; and 9 grandchildren: Carmelo, Robert, Tyler, Olivia, Alexandra "Sandy", Tristan, Diego, Nadia, and Chloe; and soon to be great-grandson Mateo.