Carol "Cookie" Santana

January 11, 1955 - February 14, 2017

Carol Santana - or Cookie as she is better known - crossed over from this life to the next on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2017. In many ways it is so fitting that this would be the day she would join the heavenly choir – because Cookie always had an amazing heart. From her early days on this earth Cookie’s heart would be seen in her singing and dancing. We remember her walking around the house with her little portable radio listening to the latest songs, moving rhythmically to the melodies. Her heart would be experienced through her infectious smile – her exuberant joy lighting up a room and all within it. Her innocence would invite you into a world very different from the world outside. One of the most lasting memories for her family is Cookie singing “You Light Up My Life” by Debbie Boone. In spite of her challenges with down syndrome, she understood and felt the lyrics of this song, often bringing tears to all who would hear her. Her later years became more difficult confining her dancing spirit to a broken body. That spirit has been released and we are confident that heaven has welcomed a new angel who is blessing the heavenly choir by ‘lighting up the days and nights with song.’ Cookie is survived by her mother Carmen, her sisters and their families – Diana and her husband John with their family - Alana, Luke and Mark; Ruth and her husband Edward with their family - Dakota, David and Lani and their daughters Mia and Sophia. Entombment at Ocean County Memorial Park will be private.