Gloria M. Rivas
Journey
1-4-1944/ 1-11-2009

Gloria M. Rivas was born in Puerto Rico on January 4th 1944. At the age 18, she married my father Leonides Santiago. At the age 19, she gave birth to my oldest sister Noelia Alvarez, followed by her my second oldest sister Mary A. Santiago was born then it was my sister Ruth Santiago, Margarita Vasquez, Lydia Santiago, Carmen Santiago, Leonides Santiago Jr., Daniel Santiago, Noemi Santiago, Divid Santiago and me Sara Sanitago. She had raised all 11 of us all by herself and sacrificed for us, she had moved house to house trying to find the perfect house to raise us in a good and safe environment and she did. My mother did an amazing job raising us, she would get up in the middle of the night to check up on us while we were sleeping to make sure we were ok and safe. Being the youngest one of 11, I had watched how my mother struggle to raise and take care of us and how she will get my sisters and brothers up early for school and for church. How she will wake up early to make us oatmeal for breakfast before going to school, even though we didn't have much to eat she will invent something to make for us to eat so that we don't go hungry. This lady that I call my mother, was the most amazing women in the world, all my good, bad, sad and happy memories will always be in my heart because she still lives in it. My happy part in my life was when she was doing a lot for us and how she would do everything in her power to see a smile on our face. How she would celebrate our birthdays with us when we were young and give us all her love and caring. My sad part of my life was when she got really sick and I gotten a phone call from my sister saying that mom is not doing good and at the moment I dropped my phone and broked down crying because I didn't want to lose my mother and didn't want her to die. I had booked a ticket to be with my mother and brothers and sisters on her last days to show her how much I love her and care about her not just me but also my brothers and sisters. She departed from us on January 11, 2009 at 12:55 am. My mother was love by so many people in her life that knew her as well and those that didn't know her. She would get up early to make coffee and read her bible before she starts her day, and then she would start to cook and clean early so by the time we get out of school we can eat, she would also feed those that comes over to her house to visit her. She would help those that were in need when she can, she would give if she had it and she would not take no for an answer when it comes to helping. She would walk every where and people will say hi Gloria, how you doing and she will start a conversation with them that will amaze them. Her favorite thing to do was go to church to preach and worship God Our Father, I can write a book about her because there's so many good things to say about her and at this point I have one right now that I want to share with my 10 brothers and sisters.

Today is Our Loving Mother's 71th Birthday and I want to wish her a Happy Birthday even though she's in Heaven. Happy Birthday in Heaven Mom, Not a day goes by when I don't think of you, I miss you, love you mom and I thank God that I blessed to be your daughter. Heaven holds our loving mother on her special day, Today is a full of good Memories, Happiness and Tears celebrating my mother's birthday. We are so lucky that we had you as our mom all of our childhood until you departed from us. You taught us the value of positivity and being strong. May the Angels sing to you the most joyous chorus of Happy Birthday today. I thank you for all you had done for all  your kids, Mom I truly love you and I wish you an amazing Birthday in Heaven, May you Rest In Peace.
1-4-1944/ 1-11-2009 

 MOM!!! WE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU!!!