The
Crystal Santana
Sanctity of Life Endowment
The Crystal Santana Sanctity of Life Endowment
Daughter, Sister, Aunt, Catholic Aggie, Lover of Jesus Christ
Born on Ash Wednesday, Crystal Santana was the fourth of five children born to Manuel and Gema Santana, devout Catholics and hardworking Mexican immigrants in the Midwest town of Aurora, Illinois. Her early life was full of love, surrounded by a tight knit network of friends and family. From an early age, Crystal was loving, nurturing, generous, and beautiful, always driven and eager to please those around her. A wonderful daughter and adored by her siblings, Crystal always made you feel like you were the most important person to her. She loved her young nieces and nephews, as well as her grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, and her adopted elderly neighbors whom she affectionately called grandma and grandpa.
The biggest way she kept in touch with her friends and family was through her hospitality and cooking. Always learning new cuisine and recipes, her meals were often delivered in beautiful packages garnished with a bow and the occasional handwritten note. It was tough keeping a small waist around Crystal because her meals were always accompanied by gorgeous cookies or baked goods from scratch. She made it her mission to add value to her community through the preparation of meals and opportunities to teach and volunteer. Most of her service went to St. Mary’s Catholic Center in College Station in the form of a silent worker, preparing meals for our priests. She became a familiar face in the kitchen serving her community and providing meals for parishioners in need. She received as much as she gave to the St. Mary’s community through countless friends, mentors, and travel companions on pilgrimages.
Whether it be pilgrimages or vacations, Crystal’s true passion in life was traveling. After graduating from Texas A&M University in 2008, following in her older brother and sister’s footsteps, Crystal stayed in College Station with her older sister Gema, fortifying the community they had built through their church and travel. Together, they spoiled their two yorkshire terriers, Figaro and Gepetto, whom Crystal doted on and loved generously as with so many others in her life.
Diagnosed with stage four breast cancer at the age of 36 was devastating, but Crystal never failed to present herself with grace and a positive attitude throughout her brave battle. Enduring chemo, radiation, several major surgeries, rigorous physical therapies, and clinical studies while continuing her passion to serve her community as a professional Social Security Advisor and passionate volunteer. Her modest and positive attitude was an inspiration to her family, friends, and community. Always the brave face in a terrifying situation, Crystal’s Catholic faith was her rock. Her favorite Saints were St. Mary Magdalene, St. Pope John Paul II, and St. Joseph, and she maintained a special devotion to the three sacred hearts of Mother Mary, Jesus, and Joseph, which she requested on her gravestone. Thankful for the miracle of independence when she received the ability to walk again after a major surgery, Crystal took it as a sign that God supported her ambition to continue serving with grace and kept a positive appearance with the knowledge that her diseased body was only temporary until she joined our Father in Heaven.
Crystal was an inspiration to everyone she met. While life is not a competition it is fair to say that Crystal was a winner at life and during her journey. Crystal had an eye for all things good and beautiful! Whether it was delicious food she eagerly shared with others or seeing every person she met as a friend, she had a way of cherishing everything as a gift from God.
Crystal was always concerned about others throughout her journey. She provided meals to sick and recovering friends, never let them get down or depressed and continued to cheer everyone up when she talked to them.
She kept and projected a positive attitude toward life and treatment throughout her journey.
Crystal loved and lived life to the fullest both before and after her Breast Cancer diagnosis. She loved attending Texas A&M being an Aggie like her bigger brother and sister and loved attending football games with her friends and cousins.
Crystal continued to work at the Social Security Administration supporting the disabled and disadvantaged poor as a Supplemental Security Income Case Worker helping hundreds of individuals maintain their case status or to file for important benefits. She would never mention or use her condition as a reason to not get work done or to help someone no matter the hectic case load and demand for services.
Crystal never stopped being involved in her beloved St. Mary's Catholic Center by attending Mass and providing prepared meals for the priests. She continued to work as a silent worker ensuring that church events for students and the staff had prepared meals and treats. She even traveled to decorate a rectory for a new priest just months before her passing.
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