Sarah Santana Bautista's Obituary
Sarah Santana Bautista
July 16, 1948 – July 23, 2026
Sarah Santana Bautista, 78, of Miami Lakes, Florida, passed away peacefully on July 23, 2026. Born on July 16, 1948, in Puerto Rico, Sarah lived a life rich with love, laughter, and purpose.
Sarah was the beloved wife of Jose Bautista, her partner and companion through decades of life's joys and challenges. She was preceded in death by her parents, Valentin Santana Leon and Lillie Ester Martinez Salome, who instilled in her the values of faith, hard work, and family that she carried with her all her life.
A proud graduate of the University of Puerto Rico, Sarah earned her bachelor's degree and went on to build a distinguished career as a physical therapist, spanning nearly 40 years across reputable hospitals throughout Puerto Rico and South Florida, including Hospital del Fondo del Seguro del Estado, Memorial Hospital and Jackson Memorial Hospital. She brought compassion, patience, and skill to every patient she treated, touching countless lives with her healing hands and warm heart.
Sarah was, above all, devoted to her family. She was the proud mother of three sons, Jose Yoel Bautista, Ian Alexis Bautista, and Kevin Bautista, and cherished grandmother to five grandchildren: Sarah, Kevin, Jacob, Ayden, Bella Santana along with many more extended grandchildren she welcomed into her heart just the same. To some of her family, she was affectionately known as “Crazy Wita” and “Viejita Locita”, nicknames that captured her wonderfully spirited, larger-than-life personality perfectly.
Sarah's home was full of personality, much like she was. She was an avid collector of roosters, filling her home with paintings, figurines, and faceless sculptures gathered over the years. Every day, she delighted in feeding the stray peacocks that wandered into her yard, forming a special bond with one regular visitor she lovingly named “Taco Taco.” She also had a well-known sweet tooth, rarely letting a day pass without at least four sugar cookies. Sarah treasured her trips to Disney World and Old Town in Orlando.
After nearly 40 years in the medical field, Sarah simply could not turn off her instinct to care for others. Whether it was family, friends, or even strangers, she was always ready with a comforting word, a watchful eye, and no shortage of medical advice, whether it was asked for or not. Her heart was fiercely protective of everyone she loved, but no one held a higher place in her care than her husband and family, who she watched over with unwavering devotion all her life.
Sarah will be remembered for her generous spirit, her quick wit, her devotion to the people and creatures she loved, and the joy she brought into every room she entered. Her legacy of care, warmth, and unforgettable character lives on in the hearts of her husband, sons, grandchildren, and all who knew and loved her.
Services and visitation will be held on August 5th, 2026 at 5:00pm at the Memorial Plan Cemeteries & Funeral Homes, 4850 Palm Avenue, Hialeah, FL 33012. Flowers are appreciated, (https://www.bellaflorflowers.com) and memorial contributions in Sarah's honor are also welcome.
Rest in peace, Sarah. You will be deeply missed and forever loved.
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