"Additional Tribute Link: http://youtu.be/KUTyrcVE0-E"
In loving memory of
Haydeé Santiago
October 22, 1953 - March 16, 2012
Name: Haydeé Santiago
Life Dates: 10/22/1953 - 3/16/2012
City Of Birth: Arroyo, Puerto Rico
Pre-deceased by
Her parents, Paulina and Jeronimo Santiago.
History
Haydeé Santiago, 58, of Irondequiot, New York, was born October 22, 1953 and passed away March 16, 2012 at Rochester General Hospital surrounded by family and friends. She is survived by Brothers Luis Pacheco (Gloria) and Israel Santiago (Carmen) both of Rochester, NY and sisters Socorro Pacheco (Luis) of Caquas, Puerto Rico, Elba Williamson (Steven) of Ann Arbor, MI, and Irma LaBoy, Maria Martinez (Felix) and Idalia Chang (Allen) all of Rochester, NY along with many nieces and nephews.
Services
Calling hours will be at the funeral home 1411 Vintage Lane (between 390 Long Pond Rd.)on Tuesday March 20th from 2-4 and 7-9 pm. The funeral will be at St. Frances X. Cabrini Parish at St. Michael's (corner of N. Clinton Clifford Ave.)on Wednesday March 21st at 11 am. Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
Additional Information
Haydeé Santiago was born on October 22, 1953 in Arroyo, Puerto Rico. She was the third youngest of eight children. Though she came from such a large family, she still managed to find her place within it. Throughout her life she was fun, quirky and full of laughter. When she was little she once asked her brother, Israel to push her high enough on the swing to touch the sky. Being the good brother, Israel obliged her and sent little Haydeé into the air, landing her in a banana tree. That never stopped her from trying new things. For a brief time, as a teenager, she wanted to be a nun when she grew up. She figured out quickly though that boys were not part of that equation. So she instead set her sights on teaching.
In January 1966 Haydeé moved to Rochester for the first time. Everything was new, the culture, the language, even the weather. During her high school years she studied in both Rochester and Puerto Rico and graduated in1973 from La Escuela Superior de Guayamanear near where she was born. In 1974 Haydeé came back to Rochester to attend her sister, Flor Maria's, wedding. She decided then to stay for good and attended the Ibero Secretary School from which she graduated with honors. Haydeé then enrolled at SUNY Brockport and received her B.A. in teaching in 1979. This made her parents extremely proud. She went on to receive her Master's degree from the University of Buffalo. Haydeé was now on her way to fulfilling her dream of being a teacher.
She taught for 28 years at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School #9 in Rochester. She was passionate about her craft but more importantly she cared about the welfare of her students. She was an extraordinarily effective teacher. It was the joy of seeing her children learn and grow strong that motivated Haydeé. School administrators soon noticed her dedication and offered Haydeé a supervising position so she could share her expertise with other teachers. Her students at School #9 absolutely adored her and the feeling was mutual. Haydeé always told her friends that she didn't need to have children of her own because she had hundreds at school. She took a special interest in students that needed extra help and would spend whatever time necessary after school to assure their success.
There was one particular little girl that would have been moved out of her class and into a special education class had she not gotten involved. She spent a year tutoring this little girl in all her classes and as a result, this student went onto higher education and is now an attorney. Haydeé had a lasting impact on many of her students. They would remember her years later and invite her to special events in their lives. One student invited Haydeé to her wedding more than ten years after they were in class together.
Haydeé's soft-spoken manner disguised a strong sense of purpose that carried her through much adversity. In 1996 Haydeé was involved in an automobile accident that crushed her right arm leaving her afflicted with pain and unable to write on the chalkboard. She trained herself to use her left arm for all sorts of tasks, including relearning how to write on the board. She was determined to always be the best teacher possible. This required her to regain the strength in her right arm through exercises and stretches, which she did for years. Only Haydeé understood this pain, but she did not want to be deterred from teaching her students.
In addition to the students she had at School #9, Haydeé had countless nieces and nephews that she opened her heart to everyday. She protected, taught and bragged about all of them as though they were hers. Haydeé taught them good values and gave them good advice. She was that way with her siblings too. Even her older siblings looked up to her. If someone needed a baby-sitter, Haydeé was there. If the kids needed a little money she was there to help. If any relative needed a place to go or someone to talk to, Haydeé's door was always open. The entire family could always count on her to be there. Haydeé was very loving to everyone and everyone loved her back.
She will always be missed and loved by all who knew her.
Tributes
"melanie s. Relation to Deceased: friend Knowing Haydee has been a blessing for me these many years. I treasure our friendship, and wish God's peace to her family. Much love. May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of His hand. An Old Irish Blessing"
"Maria Ross Relation to Deceased: Niece To a strong confident beautiful woman. You will be missed. Your giving nature and wonderful soul added joy in this world. RIP Tia I'd like the memory of me to be a happy one, I'd like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done. I'd like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways, of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days. I'd like the tears of those who grieve, to dry before the sun. Of happy memories that I leave when life is done."
"Martin Laboy Relation to Deceased: Nephew Titi you are a 2nd mother to all your nieces and nephews we will all cheris your love your kindness and your wisdom and you will forever be loved and remebered with loving hearts. Titi my heart is so heavy with sorrow my eyes are filled with tears at the fact I will no longer be able to have you near me. I love you so much and am so greatful that you were in my life. The butterfly emerges from its silken shell- Reborn, it arises, no longer bound to earth. Free at last, the butterfly glides to heights unknown before. So do our loved ones find a beautiful release as, earthbound no more, they leave our sight and joyfully rise to a garden of matchless beauty, a place of light and peace. -Evelyn Phillips"
"Bill E Silverstein Relation to Deceased: friend/co-worker Haydee'........ I just learned of your passing , and I am so sad.At #9 school you were a good friend to myself and others. Your warmth, your calm demeanor, your kindness, your sense of humor were all a joy.Thank you Lord for the gift of Haydee". The celebration of life, shared in the beginning, and again, in the end. Yet we forget to celebrate it, in every moment we live. Time, days, years, go on, but are we alive? Alive and do not know it, sleeping in the world and dead to the life we are to live. To celebrate all life, the sparrow who sang in the morning, and died in the night, why do we not celebrate its life? To know thyself is to know you are alive - to give, to love, to seek truth, beauty, and suffer pain. In life as it is meant to be, pain is forgotten, and strength is all that's left to be gained in the moment by moment celebration of life. By Deborah Peabody"
"John and Eunice Williamson Relation to Deceased: Parents of Elba's Steve We are deeply saddened by Haydee's untimely death and wish her family peace and remembrance of better times. Our love to all, John and Eunice Williamson The butterfly emerges from its silken shell- Reborn, it arises, no longer bound to earth. Free at last, the butterfly glides to heights unknown before. So do our loved ones find a beautiful release as, earthbound no more, they leave our sight and joyfully rise to a garden of matchless beauty, a place of light and peace. -Evelyn Phillips"
"Keyla Laboy Relation to Deceased: Second Niece Titi, I don't even know how to express myself. You were so fun to be around. You were like a young woman stuck in an older woman's body. You always made me laugh. When I found out that you had passed I was broken; you were the last person I expected to leave this earth. I wish I was there to have given you one last hug and kiss and to say thank you for being such an awesome Titi. You are in a better place now, so please watch over everyone. I love you. The butterfly emerges from its silken shell- Reborn, it arises, no longer bound to earth. Free at last, the butterfly glides to heights unknown before. So do our loved ones find a beautiful release as, earthbound no more, they leave our sight and joyfully rise to a garden of matchless beauty, a place of light and peace. -Evelyn Phillips"
"Christina Santiago Relation to Deceased: Niece My loving Titi, thank you for being such a presence in our lives. I'll always remember sleepovers at your house with Leslie, Adriana and Steph. We drove you crazy being loud and silly but you loved every second of it. When we were too cool for my parents' house or Titi Flor's house we walked to your house and you always had your doors open to us. Thank you for those memories and so many more. I love you and promise to live life to its fullest in your honor."
"Marta Laboy Relation to Deceased: Niece Titi Haydee, how do I express the sadness I feel because you are not here. I want to thank you for being there, for being in our lives, for loving us as much as you did. Thank you for giving me so many memories. You wrote a poem once and the last line read "I am an echo of my memories." Now you are truly an echo in my memories of you. Mucho besos Tia y mucho amor."
"Nilda Carmona Relation to Deceased: Long time friend Goodbyes are not forever. Goodbyes are not the end. They simply mean I'll miss you Until we meet again! ~Author Unknown"
"Nilda Carmona Relation to Deceased: Long time friend Goodbyes are not forever. Goodbyes are not the end. They simply mean I'll miss you Until we meet again! ~Author Unknown It seems it was not so long ago that I met Haydee.It was my first year at school 9.She was like a mentor and helped whenever I needed help.We then became good friends. Mi mas sentido pesame a la familia Santiago."
"Sue Williamson I will always remember the hospitality shown to me when I stayed with Haydee for a few days in 2005 during a difficult time in my life. We shared a heart to to heart talk that I will never forget. Her quiet, shy smile and laugh is what will come to mind whenever she crosses my mind. I'm saddened by her loss for so many who loved her. The butterfly emerges from its silken shell- Reborn, it arises, no longer bound to earth. Free at last, the butterfly glides to heights unknown before. So do our loved ones find a beautiful release as, earthbound no more, they leave our sight and joyfully rise to a garden of matchless beauty, a place of light and peace. -Evelyn Phillips"
"Haydee Santiagp Relation to Deceased: acquaintance I knew Haydee Sandiago only slightly, but I was subbing for an ESOL teacher at #9 School, when the 6th grades were moved to Hart Street. One of the students I had occasion to teach was in her class. I had known this student off and on for three years; she had not progressed in English learning during that time, and was very reluctant to learn English. She felt that if she learned English, she would be betraying her culture. Her younger sisster had already moved out of ESOL into regular classes. I asked Haydee to explain to her that no one wished to steal her culture, but only to make it possible for her to have more opportunities in America. Haydee took on the task very willingly. I appreciated that so much. I moved on, but hope it made a difference for that student. Rima Segal The butterfly emerges from its silken shell- Reborn, it arises, no longer bound to earth. Free at last, the butterfly glides to heights unknown before. So do our loved ones find a beautiful release as, earthbound no more, they leave our sight and joyfully rise to a garden of matchless beauty, a place of light and peace. -Evelyn Phillips"