Simona M. Jusino, who spent many years counseling teenage girls in crisis at the Cardinal Cushing Center, died October 18. She was 78.
She was born in San German, Puerto Rico, on March 29, 1948, to Marcario Jusino and Buenaventura Martinez Ruiz, both of whom died before her. One of eleven children, she grew up surrounded by a big extended family. She later made her home in Boston’s South End, where she raised her family while going back to school. She studied at Newbury College and Boston University and earned an associate’s degree in social sciences.
Her family says her work was about helping other people, and her years as a counselor at the Cardinal Cushing Center changed many young lives. She was proud to be Puerto Rican and loved music, dancing and family get-togethers. She went back to the island whenever she could, visiting relatives and browsing the flea markets.
She leaves her son, Basilio “Edwin” Santana; her grandchildren, Bianca O’Neil Santana and her husband, John, Kameron Santana, Regina Koiluris, Andrea Caetano and Daniel Caetano; her great-grandchildren, Anais, Johan, Ellie, Kameron Jr. and Zaria; her sister Ernestina Jusino; and her siblings Santiago, Basilio, Santos, Alberto, Raul, Rosa, Sixto, Jose Doloree, Magaly Buruca and Ramon Jusino.
Calling hours are Monday, October 26, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Welsh Funeral Home, 718 Broadway, Chelsea, and the service will be held there at the end of the evening.
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.