Santa Balbina Amador

Santa Balbina Amador, 88, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Winston-Salem, NC.

Santa was born on October 22, 1936, in Bani, Dominican Republic, to the late Maximo Vizcaino and Ana Josefa Santana. She lived in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, since 1991.

Santa was a member of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church and was a very loving mother, always devoted to her family. She raised 7 children of her own and also aided in the rearing of several of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Santa could probably write a book of funny memoirs of her adventures in raising the last of her children, a daughter that came along when the youngest of the 6 was already 18 years old. Nonetheless, a daughter to whom she gave as much love as she did the previous 6. Santa was a doting and devoted wife, who not only kept an immaculate house but also handled all child rearing activities to run a neat and tight ship. Santa never worked a formal job outside of the home but she single handedly juggled the household while working at the home front store that her husband had created as a second form of income. She also sewed her own and her children’s clothing. She taught all of her children how to sew and tend to a household. She at times also made food to sell and helped to sell produce and fruits from her husband’s farms and crops. Once the family transitioned to living in the United States, Santa took on babysitting to help generate a second form of income. This was even though by this time all her children were grown up. She is still loved and remembered by those children that she adopted as their formal babysitter.

Santa was essential to consult when rearing children, as she knew many home and natural remedies that could get the job done. She also loved to cook and had an unmatched way of seasoning food, which the entire family always tries to imitate. She loved to cook and feed people. Her meals were something the entire family always looked forward to. The family reports that her cooking could settle an upset stomach without the need for medication.

Santa was a giver, she loved to give tokens of her appreciation, even if this was in the form of money. She would often give to her family and especially the children that came to visit, even if unbeknown to them what she gave them were the last few dollars in her pocket.

Santa always gave love and confessed her blessing over all of those that came to visit or called. She will be greatly missed and will forever live in the hearts of all of the lives that she touched.

She was preceded in death by her loving and doting husband of over 72 years, Cesario Amador; and was the last living member of her immediate family.

The surviving family includes her seven children, Elupita De La Cruz (Odilio), Santa Isabel Amador, Diolencia Amador, Maximino Amador (Angela), Matias Amador (Patricia), Santo Amador (Maribel), and Gardenia Myers (Gerry); 15 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

A formal visitation and celebration of life ceremony will take place from 4:00PM - 6:00PM on Monday, July 28, 2025, at the Robert. F. Miller Center Located at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel. 

A funeral mass will be held at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at 10:30AM with Father Cory Catron officiating. Burial will immediately follow the service at Parklawn Memorial Park.

If you would like to send your condolences to the family, please mail to 133 Turner Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27104.