Iris Maria Santiago-DeJesus

SANTIAGO-DEJESUS, IRIS MARIA - age 90 formerly of Caguas, Puerto Rico quietly departed this life on August 23, 2023.

Iris beautiful life will forever be cherished in the lives of her four children, Miguel (Consuelo) DeJesus, Jose (Irma) DeJesus, Eveyln DeJesus and John (Gloria) DeJesus; 9 grandchildren, Jose Gonzalez, Richard DeJesus, Maria DeJesus, Edwin Gonzalez, David DeJesus, Jason Gonzalez, Eva DeJesus, John DeJesus and Matthews DeJesus and 8 great grandchildren, Yazmin Gonzalez, Austyn Gonzalez, Joaquin Gonzalez, Nya Gonzalez, Aiden Gonzalez, Israel DeJesus, Lucero DeJesus and Sebastian DeJesus and two sisters, Maria “Monsy” Ortiz and Margarita Santiago.

Daughter of Christopher Santiago Rodriguez and  Margarita DeJesus Milan, Iris was born February 24, 1933 in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico. The oldest daughter of nine siblings, Iris helped her mother in raising her younger brothers and sisters and worked with her father tending crops and raising animals on the small family finca. 

Iris was a member of several Catholic parishes throughout her life including St. Edwards in Philadelphia, Parroquia Santisimo Sacramento in Caguas Puerto Rico and various parishes in Northwest Indiana – Our Lady of Guadalupe, East Chicago; St. Mark, Gary and Our Lady of Consolation, Merrillville, Indiana. 

Iris was a dedicated employee of the Puerto Rican government school program starting as a part-time cook and retiring as a supervisor overseeing numerous school lunch programs. She was a passionate cook preparing diverse culinary meals that “her” students and family enjoyed.    

Services will be held privately at Hillside Funeral Home and Cremation Center officiated by Rev. Theodore J. Mens. She will be laid to rest at Borinquen Memorial Garden, Caguas, Puerto Rico.

For additional information, please contact Hillside Funeral Home & Cremation Center Konnie Kuiper-Michael Kuiper-Vass by calling us at 219-838-0800 or visiting us at www.hillsidefhcares.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Iris Maria Santiago-DeJesus, please visit our floral store.