Obituary of Nilsa Esther Santiago

Nilsa Esther Santiago, age 73, of Stratford passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 13, 2024 surrounded by her loving family. Born in Utuado, Puerto Rico on September 26, 1950, she was a daughter of the late Juan and Rosita (Irizarry) Santiago. It is no coincidence that Nilsa's homecoming occurred in the spring, a time of new beginnings and transformation. She loved the Lord and faithfully prayed the rosary daily until her illness. Her greatest accomplishment was raising her children with immense love and protection, it truly was her purpose in life. Cooking and gardening were her two passions. She knew how to perfectly master Puerto Rican dishes without a recipe, just a little of this, a little of that, and a whole lot of love.

Survivors include her loving children, Eligio Perez III, Sandra Quintiliano and her husband Ronald and Sarah Perez, her five cherished grandchildren, Justine Orlando and her husband Matthew, Zachary Quintiliano, Victoria Almeida, Kaylin Perez and Mercedes Silva, her devoted sisters, Sylvia Morales, Juanita Santiago, Nydia Lopez, Blanca Rosario, Miriam Tanke, Luz Perez and her former husband, Eligio Perez II, as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her daughter-in-law, Wanda Rosado Perez, her sisters Nelida Santiago, Reyes Centeno, and brothers, Arcadio, Norberto, Mario, Raul and Louis Santiago.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, April 19, 2024 at 11:00 am in Our Lady of Grace Church, 497 Second Hill Lane, Stratford. Entombment will follow in the Garden Mausoleum of St. Michael Cemetery, Stratford. Friends may greet the family on Friday morning from 9:30 to 10:30 am in the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Rd., Trumbull. For online condolences, please visit us at www.abriola.com.