Santa M. Stryker
Santa M. Stryker, 75, a resident of Cedarwood Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, Tyrone, and formerly of West Decatur and Philipsburg, died Saturday, November 18, 2023, at UPMC Altoona.
Santa was born on June 5, 1948, in (Manhattan Borough) New York, New York, a daughter of the late Rafael and Mary Mercedes (Colon) Candelario. Her father was a merchant marine and her mother was a dedicated homemaker.
Although born in New York City, Santa was raised in Puerto Rico. She was adopted when she was a year and a half old by her paternal grandparents. She was nurtured and loved by her family in Puerto Rico. She started Kindergarten when she was about 4 to 5 years old and she always liked school. She was a 1966 graduate of the Ponce de Leon High School and she received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Puerto Rico.
Early in her working career, Santa was employed as an elementary school teacher for three and a half years.
She gave her life to Jesus in April of 1972. Her love for Jesus and the Gospel compelled her in such a way that all she wanted to do was to talk and share about Jesus. She became part of the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ in Puerto Rico in 1973. She worked sharing the Gospel to college students at her Alma Mater, the University of Puerto Rico. She worked with the Campus Crusade program for five years.
She relocated back to New York City in 1979 and lived with her mother for a year and a half. She accepted a position with Century Letter, a direct mail company.
Santa met her future husband, George R. Stryker, in 1981, at the Christian Alliance & Missionary Church of New York City. They were married on August 7, 1982, in Bronx, New York. George preceded her in death on April 4, 2004.
After relocating to the Philipsburg area with her husband in 1992, Santa became a member of the New Life Center. She was also a teacher in their Bible Study program. Her favorite verses of the Bible were John 3:16 and 1 Corinthians 2:9; and some of her favorite songs included How Great Thou Art, And Can it be that I Should Gain and Trust and Obey.
Santa was preceded in death by one sister, Camille Olave and one brother, Raphael Candelario, in addition to her parents.
She is survived by three sisters: Vicky Mills, of New Jersey, Eugenia Olave, of Philipsburg and Vera Olave, of New York, New York; two brothers, Jose Antonio Olave, of New York, New York and William Olave, of New Jersey; and numerous nieces, nephews and other extended family members.
A funeral service will be held at the Beezer-Heath Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 719 E. Spruce Street, Philipsburg, on Wednesday, November 22, 2023 at 1 pm, with Rev. John T. Dill, officiating.
The visitation will be at the funeral home on Wednesday from Noon until the time of the service.
Interment will be in Reidy Cemetery, Wallaceton.
Family and friends may sign the online guestbook and share memories at www.beezerheathfh.com.
