Juanita Pantoja Santana

Mrs. Juanita Pantoja Santana, 95, of Amsterdam, NY passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 8, 2016 at the E.L. Wilkinson Residential Health Care Facility in Amsterdam, NY, after a long battle with Alzheimers. Born on June 24, 1921 in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico, she was the daughter of the late Jose Ramon and Apolonia Maldonado Santana. She married Francisco Pantoja on December 16, 1943 and moved to New York City in 1956 with her husband and children. He passed away on July 8,1965 due to illness. She later moved to Amsterdam in 1970. Mrs. Pantoja Santana was a homemaker and took great care of her family. She was always full of life and enjoyed singing, dancing, sewing and cooking. In her spare time, she liked socializing with her friends at Centro Civico in Amsterdam. She was a devoted Catholic and enjoyed going to church and serving as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Mary's Church in Amsterdam. Juanita is survived by three children: Frank Pantoja of Manhattan, NY, Luis "Tojo" Pantoja and Margarita "Maggie" (Robert) Serrano of Albany, NY. She was predeceased by a daughter, Rosa Maria Gonzalez in 1997. She leaves behind her cherished grandchildren: Dali (Jesus) Santiago, Marcos (Analisa) Pantoja, Diana Gonzalez, Amanda Serrano and Patrick Bobilin. Great grandchildren: Zachary Santiago, Nina Santiago, Elisha Gill, Jaiden Feliciano, Sofia Pantoja, and Benjamin Pantoja. A son-in-law Isaac Gonzalez and also several nieces and nephews. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, October 14, 2016 at 11:15A.M. at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, 156 East Main St., Amsterdam, with Father Jeffrey M. L'Arche as celebrant. Interment will be in St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery, Amsterdam. The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday, October 13, 2016 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Ave, Amsterdam, NY 12010. A special thank you to the staff at Wilkinson for their dedication and exceptional care of our beloved, Juanita. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, 156 East Main St. Amsterdam, NY 12010.