Harriet (McNeil) Santiago of Chelsea, a Red Sox fan and a regular at the bingo tables at St. Rose, the PAV, the French Club and the YMCA, died at home on September 29 with her family around her. She was 83. Visiting hours are Tuesday, October 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Welsh Funeral Home, 718 Broadway, Chelsea, and a funeral service is set for Wednesday, October 7, at 10 a.m.
She was born in Allston, one of the ten children of the late John E. and Isabella McNeil, and made her life in Chelsea. She and her husband, Carmelo Santiago, were together 64 years until his death in 2024. After his death she carried on as the head of the family.
She raised four children: Carmen Valentin, with her husband, Maximo; Harriet Santiago; Miriam Santiago-Flores; and Carmelo Santiago Jr. She had 12 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. Two grandchildren, Sonia Santiago and Anthony Valentin, died before her.
Her sisters Patricia Gatta, Josephine Santiago, Dorothy Gallagher, Mary Morton and Joan Heald and her brothers Edward, Raymond, Donald and Daniel McNeil also died before her. She leaves many other relatives and friends.
Burial will follow the service at Holy Cross Cemetery, 175 Broadway, Malden.
Compiled from information published by Welsh Funeral Home, 718 Broadway, Chelsea, (617) 889-2723. Photograph courtesy of the family via Welsh Funeral Home. This is our own summary, not the family’s obituary; read the full obituary and leave a condolence at the funeral home’s page. Corrections: we will fix any error promptly.