Lourdes Maritza Ayala Santiago was born on September 28, 1959, and passed away peacefully on April 2, 2026.
She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, sister, aunt, and friend whose kindness, strength, and warm spirit touched the lives of many. Her memory will forever live on in the hearts of those who loved her.
Lourdes leaves to cherish her loving memory her devoted husband, Carlos M. Santiago; her father, Virgilio “Gallo” Ayala; her son, Wendell Schuster; her sisters, Louise M. Torres, Ruby J. Osorio, Lorelie Marisol, and Debora Ayala; and her brothers, Angel Luis Ayala, David Ayala, and Samuel Maldonado. She was preceded in death by her mother, Ana Maria Espinosa and her brother, Jose Luis Ayala.
She also leaves behind her beloved nieces and nephews Jose, Daniel, Angel Jr., Natalie, Mikaela, Migdaliz, Melanie, Aaliyah, Alyssa, Lucinda Lake, and many other nieces and nephews too numerous to mention. She is also survived by her special aunt Ada Alicea, along with many other aunts and uncles; her (sister) cousins Edna Williams, Olivia “Cookie” Del Valle, and Maribel Alicea Hernandez and many other cousins too numerous to mention; her in-laws Dorris Mohammed, Iris Santiago, Marta Santiago, Edith Longe, Dolores Santiago Jr., Joseph Torres, Marcial Osorio, Jessie Quinones, Solfenis Ayala, Maritza Ayala, and Miriam Ayala; and her special friends Lilliemae Percell and Rhea Stevens. She also leaves many other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.
A family and friends viewing will be held on Wednesday, April 15, from 5 p.m. -7 p.m. at Divine Chapel, #129 Peter’s Rest, Christiansted, VI 00820. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, April 16, at Iglesia (HUEC) – El Tabernaculo, #219 Williams Delight, Frederiksted, VI 00840. Viewing will begin at 9 a.m. followed by the funeral service at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at Kingshill Cemetery.
The family kindly requests that family, friends, and guests wear shades of green in honor of Lourdes’ life and beautiful legacy.
