Frances Carmen Santiago

Frances del Carmen Santiago (Francisca del Carmen González) was born on June 3, 1938, in Managua, Nicaragua to Carlos González and Yelba González (Blen). Frances passed away on December 22, 2022, in Elk Grove, California at the age of 84 years.

Frances (also known as “Paquita” by her family and friends) grew up in Managua, Nicaragua where she graduated from Colegio Madre del Divino Pastor. She legally migrated to the United States in 1957 and established residency in San Francisco, California where she completed studies at Notre Dame de Namur on Dolores Street.

Frances married Maximino Santiago in October 1958 at St. Charles Church in San Francisco and they were married for over 43 years before Maximino’s passing in February 2002. They lived in the San Francisco Mission District for over a decade and in 1969 settled in the Westlake Area in Daly City, California. Their home in Daly City brought many special memories with family and friends as they loved to host many parties and celebrations and serve delicious food. On March 14, 1972, Frances was proud to be sworn in as a Naturalized United States Citizen at the United States District Court, Northern District of California, San Francisco, California. In the late 80s, she and Maximino lived in Vallejo and Fairfield for over two decades in the home of their son-in-law Randy Perez and daughter Frances Perez along with their three grandchildren Frances (Tama), Pricilla and Nicholas. In her later years, she lived with her daughter Frances Perez in Elk Grove.

Frances’s passing was preceded by her parents, her husband Maximino Santiago and son-in-law Randy Perez. Frances is survived by her children, Maxie Santiago, Frances Perez, and Bradford Santiago; daughters-in-law Marilyn Santiago and Mallory Santiago; her 15 grandchildren, Sophia Ferro, Marilyn Standing Horse, Maximillian Santiago, Frances (Tama) Glotch, Pricilla Sujo, Nicholas Perez, Anthony Santiago, Alyssa Santiago, Bradford Santiago, Jr., Marcel Santiago, Cassandra Santiago, Nico Santiago, Christian Santiago, Leanna Santiago, and Alani Santiago; eight great grandchildren, Amaya Glotch, Reilly Glotch, Michael (Mikey) Glotch, Jr., Nikamo Standing Horse, Grace Scheid, Octavia Scheid, Avanni Santiago, and Amelli Santiago; her ten sisters Teodora (Terry), Rosa Haydee, Teresa, Carmen, Mirna, Enriqueta, Mercedes, Maria Elena, Sonia, and Martha Lorena; her two brothers Carlos and Roberto; and many nieces and nephews.

Frances was a caring daughter, wife, sister, mother, tía, grandmother, and great grandmother. She provided a loving and nurturing home for her three children and often supported her children by traveling with them to various judo and wrestling tournaments throughout the U.S. When competing, her children would always know she was in the stands cheering them on and would the first to congratulate or console them. In 1976, she was interviewed on live television in Managua, Nicaragua on “Domingo Gigantes” as her three children conducted a live demonstration of Judo, the Japanese Art of Self Defense. She loved to shop, perfect her makeup and hairdo, and spoiled her grandchildren with gifts and treats. When her husband Maximino became ill and infirmed, she loved, nursed and cared for him for many years until his death. She had a good heart and provided a welcoming and loving home to all of her family. She would often share stories of her upbringing in Nicaragua and teach family how to cook traditional Nicaraguan dishes such as nacatamales, gallo pinto, and vigoron. She absolutely loved to dance merengue especially whenever she listened to her favorite musical group La Sonora Matancera.

Frances was fluent in Spanish and English and interestingly, she never learned to swim nor whistle. We asked her why, but she never gave us a good answer.

“Frances,” “Francisca,” “Paquita,” “Franci,” “Amor,” “Mom,” “Ma Ma,” “Tía,” “Mrs. Santiago,” “Grandma,” “Great-Grandma,” and “Bisabuela” will forever be loved and missed.