Lisbeth Santiago

Lisbeth "Cusi" Santiago, a beloved mother, sister, grandmother and matriarch, entered the presence of her

Lord and Savior Jesus Christ after a life marked by resilience, devotion, and unwavering love. Born in

Brooklyn, NY and raised in Paterson, New Jersey, Cusi was the fourth of five children to Mercedez Benitez,

who also went home to be with the Lord. Her early years were shaped by challenges that forged in her a

deep strength and compassion that would define her entire life.

Cusi was the proud mother of three children-Ralphie, Manuel, and Marisol-each one a reflection of her

heart, her courage, and her enduring love. She faced many hardships, including a battle with breast cancer,

yet she remained steadfast in her role as a mother and later as a grandmother. Her family was her joy, her

purpose, and her legacy.

Her life embodied the truth of Psalm 34:18, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Even in seasons of pain, she found strength in God's nearness.

In her later years she transformed her home into a sanctuary. Scriptures covered the walls like banners of

hope. Her Bible remained open, worn by countless hours of prayer, reflection, and communion with God.

Photos of her family, children and grandchildren surrounded her, reminding her daily of the love she carried

and the love she gave. Her faith grew deeper with time, reflecting the promise of Romans 8:38–39, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life… nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Nothing in her life-no hardship, no loneliness-ever separated her from God's love. Though her journey began with difficulty, it ended in grace. She lived out 2 Timothy 4:7, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." Her final years were marked by a deep, intimate walk with the Lord, and she leaves behind a legacy of love, hope, and spiritual strength that will continue to inspire all who knew her.

Cusi will be remembered not only for her perseverance but for her tenderness, her wisdom, and her

unwavering devotion to her family. The streets of Paterson will forever echo with the memory of her

footsteps-not as a reminder of her struggles, but as a testament to the woman she became, a woman now resting in the eternal Kingdom of God.

She will always be remembered. She will never be forgotten.

2 Corinthians 5:8

"We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord."

Marisol Pagan, 17 January 2026