Luz Minerva Santana's Obituary
Luz Minerva Santana, a beloved mother, grandmother, wife, sister, cousin, aunt, and best friend, passed away on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at the age of 73. Surrounded by her son Juan and her sister-in-law Jovita, who were praying beside her as she slept peacefully in her home of over 45 years, it was around 12:20 when she took her last breath.
Luz was born on August 18, 1952, in San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico, to her father, Hilario Santana, and her mother, Lucrecia Velez. As a young teenager, she moved to Connecticut to live with her aunt, Ramona Santana, and her grandmother, Isabel Echevarria Velez. After a few years, she married and moved to Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. It was there that she gave birth to her son, Juan Antonio Villafane, Jr., and her daughter, Evelyn Villafane Roman.
After several years, the marriage ended. Soon after, Jose Luis Santana came into her life. While living in Massachusetts, Luz worked at the Graco Factory. They later moved to Puerto Rico, where they lived for a few years and welcomed their beautiful daughter, Ivelisse Santana. Around 1986–1987, they moved to Fort Myers, Florida, where Luz has lived ever since.
Our beloved Luz will always be remembered for her deep love and passion for her family—not only as a mother, but also as a wife, grandmother, sister, and friend. Her wisdom, strength, and patience will remain with us for a lifetime. She will also be remembered for her love of plants, her amazing cooking, and her determination to help others. She always lent a hand, regardless of her own struggles.
Luz is survived by her three children: Juan, Evelyn, and Ivelisse; her eight grandchildren, Kavan, Macho, Isaiah, Jay, Felix, Nyleah, Haelyn, and Rush; and her seven great-grandchildren, Elina, Elysia, Adrian, Jaylani, Alayah, Kailani, and Esme. She was preceded in death by her first and oldest granddaughter, Amandaliz. Luz was the second oldest of eleven children and is also survived by her siblings: Ani, Norma, Mildred, Juan, Carmen, Victor, Angel, Wilfredo, Jose, and Felix.
Luz had a way of making everyone feel at home—and when we say everyone, we truly mean everyone. No one ever left her home with an empty stomach. She always offered a listening ear and shared gentle words of wisdom at just the right moment. Above all else, she loved her family, and her greatest joy was being a mom and grandmother. To those who knew her best, she was our steady place, our cheerleader, and our safe harbor.
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