Born Maria Milagros Torres Santiago on February 28, 1933 in Adjuntas, Puerto Rico to Jaime Torres and Maria Santiago, Milagros was the eldest of four children and the only female. After losing her own mother at age six and enduring much hardships, she married her husband, Vicente Perez, and had the first four children, all boys (Vince Jr, Alex, Elvin and Fernando), before separating and moving to New York in the early 1960s. She worked continuously in many different jobs, including as a cook, a seamstress and factory worker to help support her family as a single mom. She attended classes to learn English and new culinary skills. Several years later, she added two more to her family, a boy, Richard and her youngest and only daughter, Griselle.

She came to know our Lord Jesus, in the late 70s/early 80s and was a faithful servant until the very end. Milagros was a very loving and sociable person. She moved to Sacramento, CA in 1988 because she wanted to give her family a better life amidst the turmoil that happening in the New York City at that time. Since coming to the Lord, Milagros had taught Sunday School in various places and churches in New York and Sacramento. One highlight of the early 1990s, she started a Sunday Bible class in her neighborhood at Florin Meadows for primary/elementary grade children to learn about the Lord with stories from the Bible. She also prepared and fed them nutritious meals for lunch after their classes. She planted many seeds of faith in them. One of her early students came to visit her before she passed away to pray for her and thank her for starting her on the Lord's path many years ago. This sister-in-Christ's name is Maria Toriz, a good friend.

Milagros had a beautiful singing voice. She sang for many years in a variety of places, but her favorite place to sing was in church. As the years went by, it became more difficult for her to sing due to her COPD and thyroid surgery, but she never missed the chance to sing praises to her Lord. Worship was important to her and a way she expressed her appreciation to the Lord.

Wherever she went, she always treated people with kindness and consideration. She always asked how you were doing, prayed for people and their families and had a knack of knowing when something was bothering you. She was always available to help out in church events, from making costumes, singing in a choir and especially when it came to cooking. She was an amazing and excellent chef. People who knew her are quite familiar with cooking, especially her famous "arroz con gandules", which as a Puerto Rican staple. No one was her equal when it came to making this.

Above all, Milagros was one of the best mother's one can ask for. She always showed love and affection for her family, especially her children and grandchildren, of which there are many. She often put her needs aside to be help out in any capacity. She wanted to give her family all that she missed out in her childhood and for woman who suffered as a child, she had a big heart full of love and compassion.

Despite so many challenges, Milagros' life was full of incredible miracles and overcame obstacles that would seem insurmountable by some. She led by example and loved Jesus with all her heart and soul, and reflected His love by giving to others generously. Though we miss her, we know she is with the Lord enjoying her new life. We thank the Lord and praise him for the time he gave us with our loving mother. We love you very much, mom. You will forever be missed.

A celebration of her life will be planned as on her upcoming birthday. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested a donation at a Venmo account to help pay for burial and headstone. That account is @Googie_DEsigns