Yolanda De Santiago, 75, passed away peacefully on January 26, 2024, at home. She was Born in San Antonio TX, on November 20th, 1948.
The family were migrant workers, and traveled to Wisconsin where they picked apples and cotton, then they traveled to Christine ND, where they ended up working for a farmer all year round and called Christine home. While she lived in Christine, Yolanda loved to take care of her nieces and nephews that would visit each summer and some staying all year round. She worked in the fields hoeing sugar beets in the summer and enjoyed time with her kids riding the minibike and motorcycles, she enjoyed attending the kid’s programs at school and loved to cook. After the farm was sold, the family was forced to move to Fargo, where she worked at Drayton Foods. Years later she ended up with kidney disease and moved to Sturgeon Bay Wisc. Where she retired and started getting treatment on dialysis. 8 years ago, she moved back to Fargo, so that she could spend time with her kids and grandchildren. She loved spending time with her great grandson MJ. Yolanda did not read or write but she had her phone set up where she knew what number belonged to who, so she would go down the line calling everyone at least once a week and some daily. Family was important to her. She told her nieces and nephews, “I want to see you when I am alive not when I am dead”, because I cannot talk to you. So, ALL of them from Wisc. Moorhead, Fargo came to spend time with her, the families in Texas called and facetimed. The weekend before she passed. The family completed all her wishes, to eat steak made by her nephew Danial Lara, to have a one last party with them and to dance one last time. She did ALL that with ALL OF THEM and the love that was in the room was felt. She has a lot of family in San Antonio Tx, and was serenaded by her niece Crystal Salina, via face time. Her last 6 hrs on this earth she visited with her baby sister Eva Acosta, and nephew Johnny & Samantha Alaniz via facetime. Once again, she called out to Allah and said I am happy, I am ready Laa ilala illallah (No god is worthy of worship accept Allah.)
Yolanda left this earth at peace, comfortable and happy with her daughter Rebecca and her granddaughter- in- law Hamdi Ali at her side.
She said it in her own words, “I am free, happy and ready!”
May Allah be with her and accept her into paradise.
Amen
Yolanda is survived by: Daughter Rebecca Santiago of Fargo, and son Gerald Santiago of Lidgerwood; Grandson John Kukert Jr, granddaughter Nina Santiago MO, grandson Lucien Santiago Fargo, Breanna Santiago, Fargo, Mikayla Kountz,M Great grandkids; John Kukert III, Mason Kukert, Abdurahman Kukert, Zaynab Kukert, Xavior Santiago, Lilith Santiago, Evy Kountz, Benjamin Kountz, sister Evalyna Acosta and Jimmy Valdez
She was preceded in death by: Her parents Helen and Jose Lara, son Ricky Santiago, Grandson Cody Santiago, brothers Richard Lara, Jose Lara Jr. a.k.a Chepo, Roberto Lara; Sisters Sandra Lara, Angie Posos, Maria Paz, Corinna Dominguez, nephew David Lara and many more.
