Carmen Santos Garcia, affectionately known as Mama Cuca, passed away peacefully at the age of 96 on June 4, 2025.

Born in Puerto Rico in 1929, Mama Cuca was the cherished matriarch of her family – a devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. Married for 60 years to her dear Moncho, she was the heart of her home, the keeper of tradition, and the embodiment of unconditional love.

Mama Cuca was a remarkable cook whose kitchen was the center of family life. Her legendary chocolate cake, coffee cake, perfectly crisp chocolate chip cookies, and delicate flan were more than just treats – they were expressions of her deep care and joy in nourishing others. Every meal was an act of love, every gathering around her table a memory in the making.

She was never without her signature red nails, a small but powerful symbol of her elegance, pride, and strength. She carried her Puerto Rican heritage with honor and passed it on through her recipes, her stories, and her everyday example.

Cuca is survived by her three devoted daughters: Carmen Dominguez, Rosie Garcia, and Ivonne Sullivan (Jack Sullivan).

She also leaves behind her beloved grandchildren: Maylen Dominguez (Philip Arlen), Cristina Dominguez (Michael Grunwald), Ivonne Ruiz, Carmen Cecilia Robles (Manuel Robles), Michelle Cardel (Dominick Lemas), and Yamil Cardel (Darcy Thoma).

Her legacy lives on through her great-grandchildren: Ivonne Marie Sheehan, Manuel Robles, Paola Robles, Sofia Arlen, Max Grunwald, Lina Grunwald, Isabel Lemas, Javier Lemas, Ramon Cardel, Julian Cardel, and Agosto Cardel.

She was the center of a family that adored her, a woman whose quiet strength, sweet spirit, and unwavering devotion shaped generations. Mama Cuca was a model of saying yes to life, to joy, and to connection. She lived life with gusto.

A funeral mass will be held at 4 pm on June 16 at Chapel of St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church (526 N Park Avenue, Winter Park). Family and friends are warmly invited to join in honoring and celebrating Mama Cuca's beautiful life. A reception will follow at 5:00 pm at the University Club (841 N Park Avenue, Winter Park).

In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to honor her memory by cooking a cherished family meal, painting your nails red, or offering someone the same love and warmth she gave so freely – with humility, joy, and an open heart. St. Margaret Mary was her place of spiritual joy so please consider a donation in her name here: https://stmargaretmary.org/memorial-giving-form/

Her legacy is love. Her memory is a blessing.

She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.