Osvaldo E. "Oto" Santiago Colon, 83, of Tampa, FL passed away December 27, 2010. Funeral service will be held at 2:15 PM, Tuesday, January 18, 2011 at Bay Pines VA National Cemetery, 10000 Bay Pines Blvd., Bay Pines, Florida 33744 with Captain Bud Burkett and the Veterans of Foreign War Post 9272, to officiate with full military honors.
Oto was a native of Ponce, Puerto Rico and a local resident since 1986, when he moved here from Bayamon, Puerto Rico, Osvaldo was an accountant, a Christian and a veteran of World War II. He served in the US Army and was awarded the American Theater Service Medal, Meritorious Unit Award and the World War II Victory Medal with 2 Overseas Bars.
Oto is predeceased in death by his parents, Esteban and Lidia Santiago and a brother, David Santiago Colon and is survived by his wife, Nilda Irizarry of Tampa, FL; a son, Osvaldo E. Santiago Jr. and his wife, Grisel of Tampa, FL; daughters; Zhairy Santiago and her husband, Mark of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Linette Santiago of Clearwater, Florida, Coni Santiago and her fiance, Carlos of Tampa, Florida, Rosa Santiago of New Jersey, Nereida Santiago of Ponce, Puerto Rico and a sister-in-law, Ruth Anglero of Bayamon, Puerto Rico; three brothers: Carlos Santiago Colon and his wife, Tere of Ocala, Florida, Ernesto Santiago Colon and his wife, Carmen of Bronx, New York and Francisco Santiago Colon and his wife, Rosa of Ponce, Puerto Rico; three sisters: Alicia Olivera and her husband, Raymond of Marietta, Georgia, Elisa Santiago and Elena Santiago, both of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, thirteen (13) grandchildren and ten (10) great-grandchildren.
Please send all floral arrangements directly to the cemetery, prior to service time.
Veterans Funeral Care
1-800-467-7850
Nos vemos en el cielo Papi,
gracias Papá Dios por su vida
aquí en este mundo, lo extrañaremos mucho.
Gracias a todos por el apoyo y las oraciones.
Abuelito las memorias que tengo de ti son buenas- desde que era pequena hasta ahora que soy un adulta. Siempre querias lo mejor para tu familia y todos somos agradecidos a ti por eso. I love you and always will. Besos y abrazos abuelito.
Querido Tio siempre estaras en mi corazon.
Querido Tio, siempre fuiste muy especial y estuviste en nuestra vida cuando creciamos y hasta el ultimo momento siempre te preocupabas por todos. Descansa en paz. Un beso y nos vemos en el cielo.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Although our moments together were very few, you were a very important part of my life because God chose you to be my birth father. Without you…I would not have been born. God also chose for us to go our separate ways…God had his reasons…who are we to question them? We missed being a part of each other’s life on this earth; however, one thing I’m certain of is that some day we will all meet in God’s Paradise. Go in Peace Dad and may God hold you in his loving arms. Your oldest daughter, Rosita (grandchildren: Fabian, Aileen & Reynaldo; Great Granddaugher: Aurora Rose).
Although our moments together were very few, you were a very important part of my life because God chose you to be my birth father. Without you…I would not have been born. God also chose for us to go our separate ways…God had his reasons…who are we to question them? We missed being a part of each other’s life on this earth; however, one thing I’m certain of is that some day we will all meet in God’s Paradise. Go in Peace Dad and may God hold you in his loving arms. Your oldest daughter, Rosita (grandchildren: Fabian, Aileen & Reynaldo; Great Granddaugher: Aurora Rose).
My thoughts and prayers are with the family and GOD BLESS YOU.
I want to thank everyone for your kindness and prayers in this difficult time, specially my fiancé Carlos for his patience, support, love and understanding. Thanks for being there for him and me when we needed it most. I feel very fortunate and grateful for the time I was able to shared with my Dad all these past years. I have so many beautiful memories that will stay with me forever, and I thank God for allowing me to shared those feelings with him while he was alive. Watching his grandchildren and hearing them talking about their memories as they grew up around him has been the most rewarding one. I couldn’t ask for a better closing than the one God allowed me to have with my Dad when he called him to be on his Presence. Thank you God for such a great closure and let him know that we all will miss him very much, but will be waiting for that moment when we will see him again, but we won’t be able to bring him the “veteran cap and sunglasses” ?. I SEE YOU LATER PAPI. You know me, I will show up when you less expect it. Here are some of those great memories the grandkids will keep forever (from their own words), the $5 dollar bill in a card, with a bag full of boxes of cookies, and nevertheless “The Three kings party with presents” and that he always tried to keep the family together. His last words when he was able to talked to my brother Otto over the phone before losing his talking capability and go to the Hospice House were “Que Dios me los bendiga a todos” What a way to go Dad!!! Yes I haven’t change, I can still go on and on and on. Love you all.
Love, your baby daughter “Connie”
There is nothing harder in life then to part with those we love. None of us are promised tomorrow nor do we know when a day may be our last. All we can do is cherish each moment of life with those that God has placed in our lives. And to be thankful for the time that we had with them. My prayer for you is that God will cover you with His amazing Peace and Strength during this difficult time. May you all find peace in knowing that your father is in the Loving arms of God and one day, we will all be together again!!! And, OH WHAT A GLORIOUS DAY THAT WILL BE!!! My love to you all!!!!!
Que Dios te bendiga y mi condolencia.
Que Dios te bendiga y mi condolencia.
I am so sorry for your loss. He sounds like he was a wonderful man who lead an exemplary life.
Llevare gratos recuerdos de los momentos que compartimos juntos en familia. Que descanses en paz, te llevare siempre en mis oraciones. Saludos a todos.
For the most greatest grandfather that God could ever give me and that I could ever ask for.He was so understanding and excepting of everthing and always made me feel so loved by him. I not only love but admire him and he will be truely missed.. I hope that when I become grandmother I can be fortunated enough to share and love just the way he did to me and my kids.One of the most bigest blessings is that my kids where able to meet and expericence the great grandfather that he was and is.. see you in heaven.. God called the most beautifulest angle… :)
Papi gracias por estar con nosotros todos estos anos en Tampa los cuales pudiste disfrutar con tus hijos y especialmente tus nietos. Se que estas junto al Senor y mama abuela,papa esteban y tio David ya hay 4 para la mesa de dominos. Gracias por todo papi. Te quiero. Tu hijo
Otito.
De parte de las familias Santiago-Maldonado (Jin y Rosa from Ponce) y Santiago-Martinez (Frankie, esposa e hijos)vayan nuestras condolencias y solidardad en estos momentos dificiles. Lamentamos el no poder estar presentes en estos momentos solemnes pero quedan en nuestras oraciones y corazones. Saludos y cariños desde Ponce P.R.
Gracias le doy al Senor por usted Don Osvaldo. Usted fue un buen suegro conmigo siempre. Una buena persona,amable especialmente con sus nietos, siempre acordandose de sus cumpleanos y estar pendiente de ellos. Gracias por todo, Don Osvaldo, especialmente por haber tenido a Gareth con usted en estos ultimos meses, muchas gracias. No hay palabras para agradecerle toda su atencion para con el. Nos veremos algun dia. Un beso y abrazo fuerte. Dios le bendiga. Le amo!
Gracias le doy al Senor por usted Don Osvaldo. Usted fue un buen suegro conmigo siempre. Una buena persona,amable especialmente con sus nietos, siempre acordandose de sus cumpleanos y estar pendiente de ellos. Gracias por todo, Don Osvaldo, especialmente por haber tenido a Gareth con usted en estos ultimos meses, muchas gracias. No hay palabras para agradecerle toda su atencion para con el. Nos veremos algun dia. Un beso y abrazo fuerte. Dios le bendiga. Le amo!
Abuelito it was a blessing to have had such a man and not just a grandfather in our life. You have tought us many things but your ability to love and want for your family will never be forgoten.We will miss you more than you will ever imagined. The one thing I wish is that you were able to give your great grand kids the same little debbie snaks you gave us your grandkids. I love you Abuelito.
Abuelito it was a blessing to have had such a man and not just a grandfather in our life. You have tought us many things but your ability to love and want for your family will never be forgoten.We will miss you more than you will ever imagined. The one thing I wish is that you were able to give your great grand kids the same little debbie snaks you gave us your grandkids. I love you Abuelito.
Tio:
Q muchos recuerdos vienen a mi mente… q mucho nos enseñaste, y q mucho t extrañaremos.
TE queremos.. nos veremos algun dia y nos daremos la “BUD” bien friita como te gustaba.
Gracias x existir!
Gracias por tratarme como a una hija desde que Oto y yo nos casamos. Se que esta en mejor lugar y celebramos su vida. El consuelo del Senor ha estado con la familia por que sabemos que no es un adios, sino Hasta Luego. Muchas bendiciones a todos los que abran esta pagina! Con amor, Grisel Santiago