Iris Mirta Santiago Acosta died peacefully in her sleep in Bayamon, Puerto Rico on January 27, 2022 at the age of 89 years.
Iris is survived by her children; Manuel Acosta and wife Amber Acosta of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; Ivan Acosta and wife Teresa Knox-Acosta of Tulsa, OK; Marylis Acosta of Bayamon, Puerto Rico; Maridella Campbell and husband Kelly Campbell of Lakewood, CO; two sisters, Blanca Miller, Unicoi, TN, and Eva Hernandez, Concord, NC; three brothers, Franklin Santiago, Miami, FL, Emilio Santiago, Kannapolis, NC, and Elpidio Santiago, Concord, NC. Several grandchildren, nieces, and nephews also survive. She is preceded in death by her husband, Manuel (Kiko) Acosta; sister Liboria Santiago-Turner, brother Alberto Santiago; Sister Carmen Lucilla Santiago; and brother Miguel "Mike" Santiago.
Iris was born on December 13, 1932 in Adjuntas, Puerto Rico to Candido Santiago and Florentina Torres. She graduated from high school in 1950 and attended East Tennessee University from 1950 to 1954, graduating with a bachelor's degree in home economics. She married her beloved Kiko Acosta in 1958 and together they had four children. After moving to San Juan, Puerto Rico from Aguadilla, Iris began working for the Puerto Rican Department of Education in Food Planning Services and did so until retirement.
Iris was an accomplished cook and often prepared delicious meals for friends and family. She loved reading, enjoyed traveling, and shared her musical gifts with others, singing standards and hymns. She had a beautiful sense of style and was admired by all those that knew her. Iris would generously give "little tokens" of appreciation to friends and family and always had a kind word to uplift others. Iris was a dedicated follower of Christ and witnessed to family, friends, and strangers alike.
A celebration of life is scheduled for February 5, 2022, at 6 pm at Iglesia de la Paz in San Juan Puerto Rico with Osvaldo Delbrey officiating the ceremony. A second service will occur at Fitzgerald's Funeral Home in Tulsa, Oklahoma at 11 am on February 11, 2022, officiated by Victor Cruz where Iris will be laid to rest next to the love of her life, Kiko. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Iris's meaningful life. The family would like to thank Iris's caregivers and health providers for their dedication to her care, health and well-being.