Ana M. Santiago's Obituary
The life of Ana Mercedes Santiago began in Magange, Colombia on June 24, 1914 the fourth child of Maria de las Mercedes Mancilla Cespedes and Simon Narciso Morales Montero. She passed away peacefully at her home 100, years later with her son by her side on December 3, 2014.She left Colombia in 1941 and found work at the military base in Colon Panama. There she met her husband of 50 years Angel Santiago-Montes and Army solider. Post war found them stationed in Puerto Rico then to Ft. Hood Texas where they raised their children then after 35 years of military service retired to San Diego in 1966.Ana was a homemaker and stay at home mother having raised 11 children and was an excellent seamstress, cook and amazing baker she demonstrated her love of family with those skills and cooked her final Thanksgiving meal several weeks ago. Gardening was her passion and she grew beautiful flowers amazing fruit trees and always felt God presences in her garden.Ana was preceded in death by her husband, Angel Santiago-Montes, and two sons, Antonio Santiago and Justo Santiago. She is survived by nine children, Amparo Fanning of Sterling, Va., Napoleon Guadron of Amsterdam, Netherlands, Aurelia Santiago of New York City, Angel Santiago Jr., of Laredo, Tx, Alfredo Santiago of San Diego, Simon Santiago of San Diego, Alberto Santiago of San Diego, Mercedes Santiago of San Diego and Eva Smith of San Diego.Ana was blessed with eleven grandchildren, John Fanning of Va., Christina Stejbach of Va., William Fanning of Va., Luna Duker of Amsterdam, Solana Zwart of Amsterdam, and Estrella Guadron of Amsterdam, Melissa Santiago of Laredo, Stacie Riley of Alpine, Simon Santiago, Jr. of San Jose, Teresina Santiago of San Diego, Adrian White of San Diego.Blessings continued in her life with fourteen great-grandchildren, Megan, Casey and Courtney Stejbach of Va., William Fanning of Va., Indiana and Sequoia Duker of Amsterdam, Noa and Lia Zwart of Amsterdam, Selena and Safiro Fambach of Amsterdam, Katarina and Isabella Santiago of Laredo,Tx and Blake and Collin Riley of Alpine, Ca.Ana was a parishioner of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Marlborough Avenue from her arrival in San Diego in 1966.Ana Santiago lived a full life centered on her family and found joy and happiness in the simple pleasures of caring for them and enjoying time spent with them.God blessed her with 100 years of life and in calling her home; she went with the peace and grace of a faithful and willing follower.God Looked Around God looked around His garden and He found an empty place. He then looked down upon this earth and saw your tired face. He put His arms around you and lifted you to rest. God’s garden must be beautiful. He always takes the best. He knew that you were suffering; He knew that you were in pain. He knew that you would never get well on this earth again. He saw the road was getting rough and the hills were hard to climb. So, He closed your weary eyelids, and whispered, “Peace be Thine”. It broke our hearts to lose you, but you didn’t go alone, for a part of us went with you the day God took you home.
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