Obituary for Ms. Maria J. Santos

Dearest Mom
First I want to thank you for giving me life.
Thank you for teaching the little things in life that are most important. Like loving, caring and giving. One of my fondest memories was living in  war-torn Dominican Republic when I was three years old. Whenever an abandoned child passed in front of our home, usually dirty, hungry and naked, you would take them in and bathe, clothe and feed them. You would literally take the shirt off my back along with my shorts and Sandals and give it to the orphan child. My biggest regret was you calling the authorities and reporting them lost. I wish they could have all stayed in our home to play with me. You never thought twice to feed the hungry.

You literally had nine lives after your first battle with cancer. The ugly C word had to attack you eight more times in order to beat you. Last year when it attacked you for the eighth time, C joined forces with COVID and again you beat them both. Finally on the ninth try C invited a bilateral pneumonia to take you down. You will always be a true heavy weight champion. I know you fought this battle long and hard because i never wanted you to leave my side. However, God gave me 59 years with you. On our last conversation we both agreed that I had to stop being greedy and let you go. That’s why on Sunday October 24th, 2021, St. Raphael Day, the middle name you gave me, the good Lord answered my prayers and alleviated your pain. You’re gone and our family and friends will miss you, however your legacy of feeding and helping the needy will carry on.
I will always love you with all my heart ❤️