Lillian Rosario

Lillian Santiago was a wonderful mother, grandmother, friend, and neighbor. She passed away peacefully on Friday, June 9, 2023, surrounded by her family and loved ones. She was born in Yauco, Puerto Rico to Adonia Santiago and Pedro Quiñones on November 23, 1939. On Lillian’s first day of birth, Adonia asked her sister, Palmira Garcia, to raise Lillian as her own. From that moment on, Palmira became Lillian’s real mother. In 1953, Palmira and her family, including Lillian, moved to Chicago. This was a time of a massive migration when Puerto Ricans were leaving the island and going to the United States, hoping for a better life. All of this took great courage, as the family could not travel all at once and the children had to be sent for gradually, once there was enough money for the airfare. Lillian came to Chicago at the age of 14 with her sister Dora, the first of all the children to join their mother. Her other siblings also arrived around the same time. She lived in Chicago for 51 years, where she married twice and raised four children, one granddaughter, and three great granddaughters. At a young age, she began to work in the manufacturing industry. In 2004, she retired from her factory worker position and moved to Orlando, Florida where all her children also settled eventually. Lillian had a unique spirit, full of laughter and joy. She had no filters and always spoke her mind, saying things as she saw them. She was a hard-working, independent woman, who willingly shared her generous heart and kind soul with all her family, friends, and all those who knew her. She was devoted to her children and grandchildren. It gave her enormous pleasure to help them in every way possible, to cook for them for every special occasion, and to pamper and take care of them. She was a “spoiler” and each one of them knew it. She had wonderful life-long friends who could count on her for anything, at any given moment. She never hesitated to care for the sick or to give of herself and her things to those who were in need. Lillian loved music, especially nostalgic Spanish songs of yesteryear, and had a fabulous collection of vinyl records from that era. She loved birds and often fed stray animals. She had a strong work ethic, rarely missed a day of work, and had a real sense of commitment and responsibility. Lillian is survived by her four children-Thelma Gonzalez, David Melendez, Mary Lou Melendez, Juan Luis Melendez, Jr., 11 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren, and 9 great-great grandchildren. She is also survived by three sisters, Ninette Fraticelli, Nilda Fraticelli Lugo and Dora Garcia. She was preceded in death by her mother, Palmira Garcia, and two brothers, Ruben Fraticelli and Porfirio Fraticelli.

Lillian Rosario

November 23, 1939 - June 9, 2023