Yolanda Muniz Santi

Birth: Los Sitios, Guayanilla Puerto Rico January 19, 1935.

Death: Emory University Hospital, Atlanta GA, December 8, 2022.

Loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, friend and teacher.

Yolanda’s parents were Francisco Muniz Curbelo and Mercedes Santi Ortiz.

Siblings: Blanca (d), Raquel, Nilda, Hernan (d), Gladys(d), Armando (d) and Antonio (d).

Paternal grandparents: Fulgencio Muniz Martinez, Ana Curbelo Mercado.

Maternal grandparents: Antonio Santi Franceschi, Clara Ortiz Lopez.

Grandchildren: Christina, Nicolas, Diego, Gabriel, Xavier, Kevin, Keyla, Paola and Natalia.

Yolanda lived a full life and her role models were her own mother Mercedes, St Mary, Mother Dominga, Sr. Marietta and Sr. Catherine of the Dominican Order of Yauco PR. She was a very devote Catholic from an early age until her transition to Heaven. She lived her faith and practiced her Christian values throughout her whole life.  Yolanda was blessed with many gifts which she developed over the years and shared with everyone she encountered in her life. She was gifted with: faith, charity, hope, generosity, joy, kindness, patience, and resilience. She was also a talented public speaker, writer, teacher, singer and composer.

As a child she learned how to crochet and would make baby items that were locally sold to help her large family. In her teenage years she was a catechist and prepared children for First Communion at the rural farms near Yauco, PR. She was president of las Hijas de Maria and participated in the choir, charitable activities, teaching the recitation of the Holy Rosary and the processions of Holy Week and Patron saints. In 1953 after graduating from Holy Rosary Catholic High School in Yauco, PR, she went on to study a Bachelor of Science with a major in Chemistry / minor in Biology at the Catholic University of Ponce, Puerto Rico.  After her graduation in 1957 she taught both in the mainland and Puerto Rico chemistry, biology, physics and Latin. Yolanda was a charismatic teacher who positively influenced her students to be the best they can be in their own lives.  In 1960 Yolanda worked for two years with the Department of Education of PR and was sent to work one of those years in a research study at the University of Texas, Austin. There on a blind date she met her future husband Roque Salvador Romero Arroyo. She returned to PR as she was accepted and later studied one year of medical school at the University of Puerto Rico, School of Tropical Medicine.

Yolanda decided to leave medical school and returned to teaching. During a period of four years she  had been corresponding with and later married Roque who was a captain and pilot for the US Air Force in 1964 In New Orleans, LA. Yolanda began a new chapter of her life as a military wife for the next few decades living in various military bases in the US mainland. During this time, she gave birth to four children: Cecilia M, Francisco H., Yolanda G. (Edson) and Roque S. Jr. (Maria del Carmen). Loving wife and mother who sacrificed all for her family. She was the first to rise and last to sleep during this time caring for her growing family. She enjoyed reading, writing especially poetry, singing, dancing and had a talent to compose improvised decimas during the Christmas season. In the 1980’s she completed a Masters of Arts in Education at the Interamerican University - San German, Puerto Rico.  She then taught at the same institution to prepare future teachers. By the 1990’s Yolanda returned back to the classroom to teach chemistry in various middle and high schools in Mayaguez PR.  

After her retirement in 1995, in addition to caring for her husband and several grandchildren, Yolanda dedicated her time to prepare altar linens, visit the sick, teach the prayer of the Rosary and preach the word of God. In her later years soon after the passing of her beloved husband Roque in 2012, she herself was found to be diagnosed with cognitive impairment that later developed into Alzheimer’s. In 2017 after surviving hurricane Maria, Yolanda moved to Decatur, GA and was cared for until her passing by her daughter Cecilia. She was a member of St Joseph Maronite Catholic church, patient at Emory Integrated Memory clinic and a client at Plymouth Harbor adult day center. During the pandemic Yolanda continued to crochet baby blankets until last year which were donated to area pediatric hospitals in GA.  Yolanda was a very brave women of strong faith who valiantly carried her cross of Alzheimer’s disease for many years. She was prolife and inspired both friends and strangers to seek and live God’s will during the many challenges of Alzheimer’s disease. Gracious and patient, Yolanda was faithful to God and St Mary until the end of her many battles with dementia.

Before her diagnosis of dementia Yolanda personally requested two things upon her passing. First was that no one would dress in black for a year as tradition of mourning. Second that there be no flowers at her funeral as she said many times to give her flowers in her lifetime so that she could enjoy them. Therefore, I (Cecilia) am asking that in lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the following institutions that greatly helped Mami during her last years of Alzheimer’s disease.

These are:

Emory Integrated Memory Clinic:  and https://together.emory.edu/give/to/patient-care-and-community-health/nell-hodgson-woodruff-school-nursing

Plymouth Harbor Adult- day center: the United Congregational Church. 2676 Clairmont Rd Atlanta, GA 30329. Attention: Ms. Berthe Megie, Director.

Catholic Masses for the repose of her soul will be held throughout 2023 at St. Joseph Maronite Catholic Church in GA and at the convent of the Maronite Servants of Christ the Light in MA. For the recitation of the Rosary novena please contact Cecilia at 404-372-8148.

Respectfully and loving written by Cecilia

Condolences can be sent to: Cecilia M Romero, 2280 Brengare dr. Decatur GA. 30033