Obituary of Narcisa F. Santos

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — West Brighton resident Narcisa F. Santos, devoted mother of three and grandmother of nine, entered eternal life peacefully on Aug. 13, 2025, after a two-year illness. She was 87 years old. Well-loved for her warmth, humor, elegance and soft-spoken way of making everyone lucky enough to know her feel cared for and understood, she was known affectionately to many as "Narcy" and as "Lola" to her family. Mrs. Santos was the widow of Jesus A. Santos, her husband of 57 years. She lovingly served as his primary caregiver for two years during his battle with cancer until his passing in January 2021, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The second-to-youngest child of Isidro and Catalina Fernandez, Mrs. Santos was born on Feb. 18, 1938 in San Juan, in San Miguel, Bulacan, Philippines. She was an alumna of San Miguel National High School and Far Eastern University (FEU) in Manila, where she earned her Bachelor of Education degree. She worked as an elementary school teacher in Bulacan until March 1973, when the couple immigrated to Staten Island for a chance at the American dream and to give their daughters, then ages 7, 4, and 2, better educational opportunities and brighter futures. For more than 30 years, Mrs. Santos worked tirelessly on the overnight shift in the nursing department at the former Doctors' Hospital, Concord, so she could be at home during the day with her children. Unfailingly, she made them homemade dinners and supervised homework before napping again to leave for work at 11 p.m. By the late 1990s, all three of her children had gone on to earn their doctorate degrees. THE WISE FAMILY MATRIARCH The hallmarks of Mrs. Santos' personality were her easy smile and uncanny ability to see through complicated situations and give sage advice. She was as creative as she was smart, known for her beautiful singing while doing chores, and the imaginative fairytales she spun, to the delight of her daughters and grandchildren when they were young. Each story—always disguised to teach the lessons of hard work, respect and loyalty—captured their imaginations and inspired their creativity, too. "Her unconditional love and example shaped my life and leave a bottomless void in my heart that I will feebly try to fill with memories of laughter we shared, hardships we overcame and milestones we celebrated," said her daughter, Dr. Gracelyn Santos. "I will be forever grateful she sacrificed everything for us, with incomparable grace, humor and wisdom. I will miss her every day, forever." Her grandson, Theodoro Santos, added, "Many things change as a kid, but Lola was a constant in my childhood and my life. From my earliest memories, I remember the love she radiated and the affection she showed me and my siblings. "From the meals she cooked for us to the thoughtful gifts she gave, Lola was as generous as she was protective." THE LOVE OF HER LIFE In 1958, at the age of 20, Mrs. Santos was introduced to her future husband, Jess Santos, of Santa Cruz, Laguna, through a pen pal program sponsored by The Manila Chronicle, one of the country's leading newspapers at the time. Their casual correspondence quickly grew into a meaningful friendship. Over the next six years, the two exchanged hundreds of letters — their bond deepening into love after just two years of sharing their thoughts, aspirations, and dreams for the future. After meeting in person and falling deeply in love, they eloped on Nov. 30, 1964. In 1989, Mr. and Mrs. Santos joyfully celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a vow renewal and a grand reception attended by 200 guests at the former Shalimar in Dongan Hills. In 2014, they celebrated their 50th golden wedding anniversary at Richmond County Country Club, Dongan Hills. Their original love letters, which document the evolution of their relationship, have since been preserved in three leather-bound volumes — treasured keepsakes of a timeless love story. LOVE OF FAMILY AND ARRANGEMENTS In her leisure time, Mrs. Santos enjoyed traveling to Europe, Asia and North America. In warm months, the garden on her front porch and the enormous backyard teemed with flowers, plants and rose bushes, reflecting her favorite pastime. She also enjoyed antiquing, crocheting blankets, window shopping — and sometimes real shopping!— for jewelry, and attending family birthday parties, graduations, piano and violin recitals, softball and basketball games, musicals, swim meets and fencing matches of her grandchildren. Mrs. Santos is survived by her three daughters: Dr. Genalin Santos Kalpaxis and her husband Leander Kalpaxis of Ridgewood, New York, and their sons Leonidas and Simonides; Dr. Gracelyn Santos and her husband Dr. Michael Mroczek of Staten Island, and their daughters Charista, Tatiana, and Angelica; and Gaylene F. Santos, Esq. of Staten Island, her husband Nacim Ourabah, and her children Alessandro, Theodoro, Leopold and Catherina. Her daughter, Dr. Gracelyn Santos, a dentist in private practice in Meiers Corners for 28 years, is a former Miss Staten Island 1990 and a part-time life and culture columnist for the Staten Island Advance/SILive. Her three granddaughters are also titleholders: Tatiana Mroczek was Miss Staten Island 2022; Angelica Mroczek was Miss Staten Island Teen 2020; and Charista Mroczek was Miss Staten Island Teen 2016. She is predeceased by her siblings, Lourdes Fernandez Ignacio, Bonifacio Francisco Fernandez, Trinidad Fernandez Domingo, Carmelita Fernandez Li, and many nieces and nephews. In accordance with Mrs. Santos' wishes, a private cremation was held, and handled by Matthews Funeral Home. A Mass at Sacred Heart Church and celebration of her life will take place at a later date. TRIBUTES BY MRS. SANTOS' GRANDCHILDREN Alessandro Mercado, 26: "Lola was the cornerstone of our family. Her caring nature laid the foundation of kindness that helped me, my brothers Teddy and Leo, my sister Rena, and all of my cousins grow into better, stronger people. For 26 years of my life, she was always there—greeting me with kind eyes, a loving smile, and a mouth-watering homemade Filipino meal. "I fondly remember my weekend visits to Lola's house, where she would tend to her beautiful garden while watching me and my cousins play in the backyard. When I have a family of my own, I will share stories of how Lola loved bingo and checkers, and how much joy she found in spending time with her grandchildren. When I picture a loving and kind grandmother, I see her. "She was the mother of our mothers, our Lola, and she will always be remembered. Thank you, Lola. We love you so much." Charista S. Mroczek, 25: "Lola was not just my grandmother, she was one of my best friends. She filled my life with so much love, wisdom, and joy, and I will carry her with me forever. "My Lola always gave the best advice, told the funniest jokes, and had a way of making every day brighter just by being herself. She was an incredible cook, especially her legendary eggrolls and Filipino beef giniling, my favorite. Many have tried to replicate her recipe, but all have failed because the main ingredient was missing: her love. "I will miss sitting with her as she showed me the treasures of her fabulous jewelry collection, and my weekends won't be the same without our shopping days, filled with laughter and stories. I will miss her every single day, but I take comfort knowing she is at peace and reunited with my Lolo in heaven. "I will see Lola in all the beautiful things she loved—fields of flowers, blooming gardens, family dinners, delicious Filipino meals, sparkling jewelry, road trips, porcelain figurines, and anything touched by the color purple. I will always love her." Theodoro Santos, 24: "I still remember when she taught me how to scramble eggs, how to play checkers, or when she scratched my back as a kid. No matter what activity we did with her, or how silly our requests were, she would always laugh, smile, and ask us when we could see her again. "We all loved Lola deeply. While her absence will be unmistakable, her love and her care will stay with me and my siblings forever." Leonidas Kalpaxis, 23: "I will always remember Lola's warm attentiveness and care during sleepovers as a child. My cousins and I would always enjoy the delicious pancit, palabok noodles, and adobo she cooked during family gatherings. We love her and are grateful for these and so many other memories that we will always hold in our hearts." Tatiana Mroczek, 21: "People always said I looked like my Lola growing up—and I agree. When I see her lovely features in my reflection now, I recall the woman she was: sentimental, smart, selfless and stylish. She left behind her own mom and siblings and the life she knew in the Philippines for a better future for her children, an incredible sacrifice. "Growing up, she told me the best stories, fables filled with lessons about kindness, humility, and family, all values she lived by. Her brilliant storytelling was second to none and I will miss it. "Her home was decorated with her exquisite collections of fine china, thimbles, and spoons. She even kept kid-sized furniture, toys, and board games, always ready for us for whenever we dropped in. Even towards the end, when she was bedridden, she was the perfect hostess, offering us Tootsie Rolls and Baby Ruths when we visited. "Life without Lola will feel emptier. In losing her, we've lost our favorite meal, our wisest adviser, and the beacon of our family. I will miss her beyond words." Angelica Mroczek, 21: "My Lola was the beloved matriarch of the Santos clan and, alongside my late Lolo, the North Star for her nine grandchildren. Her love never wavered, guiding me to always make wise choices. She prioritized family, and at every gathering her table overflowed with homemade Filipino food. My favorite was her beef menudo. "We spent many summer days on the enormous porch Lolo built, surrounded by countless pots of flowers she carefully tended. Those vibrant blooms rivaled Longwood Gardens (her favorite day trip!) and are the backdrop of carefree, childhood memories. "Lola had an unparalleled sense of style and epitomized femininity, always carrying herself with natural grace. For every occasion, she gifted my sisters and me with modest yet gorgeous jewelry, each piece now a treasured keepsake. "These memories are etched in my heart, and everything I learned from Lola will live on in me, my sisters, and my mom forever. Rest in peace, Lola. I love you." Leopold Mercado, 21: "Lola holds a special place in my mind and heart. I remember being a little child, excited to play checkers with her during our many weekend sleepovers. Chips clattered across the board in our exciting battles of strategy and skill. Only later did I realize she had been letting me win—giving my pieces 'superpowers' to fly across the board diagonally and capture hers. "It's a silly memory to look back on, but for me, those games captured the essence of her heart: to lift me up, to encourage me, to make me feel like I could do anything. All my life, she has been nothing short of encouragement personified—forever a source of comfort and kindness. I would not be who I am today without her." Simonides Kalpaxis, 19: "I will miss my Lola's jokes and her laughter. She always made the cutest, funniest remarks. I will always cherish the time I spent enjoying her delicious food and listening to her stories. She loved her grandchildren, and we loved her even more. I'm grateful for the time we shared and for the memories I will carry with me forever."