Guillermina Santos

1945 – 2024

Loving, generous, and kind, Guillermina Santos lived a life rooted in faith and devoted to family. A friend and servant of God, Guillermina was a very strong woman who firmly believed, “Everyone Mattered!” In Guillermina’s good care, everyone felt welcomed, loved, and appreciated. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, Guillermina will long be remembered and so dearly missed.

1940s Mexico was anything but easy, as strained economic times and enormous class divides fueled growing discontent among the majority of Mexican citizens. Despite life’s difficulties, Antonio and Paula Aguirre (nee Sanchez) found much joy in welcoming their daughter Guillermina to their family on July 7, 1945, in Coahuila, Mexico.

The third of eight children, Guillermina’s mother was a homemaker, and her father a “jack of all trades.” Along with her siblings, Filomeno, Antonia, Francisco, Bruna, Aurelia, Chon, and Blas, she grew up in a loving home. When her mother became ill, Guillermina stepped in to care for the family. As a result, her childhood was limited by her responsibilities. Though she was unable to attend school, she embraced her role as a care provider and felt privileged that she could, at a very young age, step into her mom’s shoes.

During her youth, Guillermina first met Hilario Santos. Instantly smitten with Guillermina, Hilario followed her around, but she ignored his attention. After years of trying, he finally won her heart. The couple happily married on January 6, 1962, in Tamaulipas, Mexico, when Guillermina was only sixteen.

Guillermina loved Hilario dearly and was delighted to create a loving family with him. Over the years, the couple joyfully welcomed eight children. Jose, Jesus, Maria De Los Angeles, Maria Del Carmen, Guadalupe, Maria Luisa, Paula, and Hilario Jr. were the centers of their worlds, and Guillermina devoted herself to creating a loving and supportive home for them.

In the early 1970s, Hilario came to the United States in search of work that would allow him to bring his family to the country. While Guillermina tended to their family in Mexico, Hilario first found work in Delaware; he eventually secured higher-paying jobs closer to the Midwest. After several years of hard work and saving, Hilario was able to bring Guillermina and their older two boys to America. Finally, in the late 1970s, when Hilario began working a well-paying job at AM Cast in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, the family was able to begin saving and planning to bring the rest of the family to the United States. Finally, in 1978, Hilario left for Mexico with a small station wagon, where he picked up his remaining children and made the long drive to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where the family was reunited.

Guillermina loved her family and being a homemaker. She looked forward to her yearly Mexico trip, saving all year long to create Christmas in July with her family. When the time came, she packed the truck so tightly that there was not a square inch available, even for a mouse. Guillermina enjoyed cooking, needle hobbies, knitting, and plants. She had a green thumb and could make any plant thrive. She also loved animals and took pleasure in watching, feeding, and caring for them. Guillermina’s heart’s delight was her family. Though they did not have a wedding ceremony in 1962, she and Hilario celebrated their 50th anniversary by renewing their vows in a lovely ceremony they shared with the beautiful family they were blessed to create together.

From a young age, Guillermina felt a deep and enduring love for God. She spent a lot of time reading scripture and welcomed any opportunity to be the servant God needed her to be. She would speak blessings into existence for anyone who visited her home and loved making everyone feel loved and important. She prayed over everyone. Even in her final days, she spoke blessings into existence from her bed. “Que Dios me los cuide y cubra y me los acompañen a donde quiera que anden y vallan todos los dias.” May God watch over you, cover you and accompany you where-ever you are and wherever you go all of your days.

Clearly, life feels far less certain in the absence of Guillermina’s steadfast companionship. As we celebrate her beautiful life, may we find much comfort in our many treasured memories. May we also find comfort in the honor of carrying Guillermina’s legacy of faith, hope, and love forward. In each moment we choose to live as God’s servants, tend to our family, provide sanctuary and prayers for others, and enjoy the simple pleasures of one another’s good company, we keep Guillermina’s beautiful memory alive and inspiring others as she so inspired each of us.

Entered her rest on Sunday, June 2, 2024 at the age of 78. Preceded in death by her husband Hilario Santos Sr., parents Antonio and Paula Aguirre (nee Sanchez), grandson Ricardo Hernandez Jr. and sisters Antonia and Bruna. She is the cherished mother of Jose Santos (Juanita), Jesus Santos (Bernarda), Maria De Los Angeles, Maria Del C. Espinoza (Gerardo), Guadalupe Santos (Delia), Maria L. Turner (Kenneth), Paula Scott (Prentis) and Hilario Santos Jr. Loving Grandmother of Guillermina, Yezenia, Ame, Jose, Paulina, Andres, Kriztian, Francisco, Jose Carlos, Gerardo, Marco Antonio, Alexa, Anthony, Brianna, Gabriella, Zipporah, Uriah, Jose, Joshua, Marco, Marilena, Delicia, Prentis Jr., Andrew, and Shaina. Dear sister of Filomeno, Francisco, Aurelia, Chon, and Blas. Further survived by 16 great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

Visitation Friday, June 7, 2024 at the Heritage Funeral Home 4800 South 84^th Street, Greenfield, WI 53228 from 11:00 AM until time of the Funeral Service at 12:00 PM.