Emma Santana Hall

Emma Santana "Miss Emma" Hall, 84 of Flour Bluff, Corpus Christi, Texas, passed away June 11, 2025, after a brief illness at Harbor Hospice in Portland, Texas.

Miss Emma was born Emma Diaz Santana on September 28, 1940, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Miguel Angel Santiago (Santana) and Arminda Diaz. Miss Emma was proud of her Puerto Rican heritage and embodied the Puerto Rican values of family and celebratory spirit. She loved music and dancing, and felt no celebration was complete without good food. One of her favorite ways to celebrate was with a potluck. From her first marriage to Benjamin Rillo, Sr., Miss Emma was introduced to Filipino culture and food. Even after their marriage ended, Miss Emma kept close ties with her Filipino family members and friends.

Miss Emma was a social butterfly who loved chatting with her family, friends, co-workers, and everyone she saw on a regular basis. Even her final visits with family and friends were peppered with funny jokes and witty comebacks. She delighted in having family over to celebrate holidays with a big spread of favorite holiday foods. In her younger years, she liked reading and passed on that interest to her children. She also enjoyed crossword puzzles. With the latest technology, she found fun in playing puzzle games on her phone. In her later years, she discovered YouTube and enjoyed watching international YouTubers, especially Middle Eastern families living in the countryside.

When Miss Emma’s three eldest children reached school age, she entered the workforce, serving at the Corpus Christi Naval Air Station cafeteria. From there, she was a popular waitress at the NAS Officer’s Club. Her final workplace was her most rewarding one, as a “cafeteria lady” for the Flour Bluff Independent School District, where she worked until she retired at age 82. Family friend Jacque McEnulty posted on Facebook: “I have to tell you nobody at the school knew that I knew her cause we worked in separate departments. I was in special ed, and she was in the cafeteria, so I can tell you the people talked about her in the most flattering light, like she was an angel, and now she is an angel. She did so much for so many. I heard it all over the place, and she wasn’t even in my building, so there you have the gossip of your mom, and it was always good. She was a sweet neighbor as well.”

Miss Emma was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She is survived by sons: Benjamin Rillo, Jr., Reynaldo (Sandra) Rillo, and Antonio Rillo all of Corpus Christi; daughter Erlinda (Richard) Blevins of Cibolo, Texas; grandchildren: Jennifer Blevins of Schertz, Texas; Valerie (Antonio) De La Cruz, Thomas Rey Rillo and Isabella Rae Rillo all of Corpus Christi; great-grandchildren: Skyler Blevins of Schertz; Tatum De La Cruz, Diesel De La Cruz, Axel De La Cruz and Elise Hannah De La Cruz all of Corpus Christi.

Miss Emma was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband and father of her children, Benjamin Rillo, Sr., and her second husband, William Hall. The family thanks the staff of Harbor Hospice for their compassionate care of Miss Emma.

A Celebration of Life will be held June 28, 2025, at 2:00 pm at God's Glory Baptist Church, 1122 Baywood Lane in Corpus Christi, with Pastor Noel Munoz officiating. A potluck reception will follow the service.

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Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of the professionals at Affordable Cremations by Winsteads'. (361) 655-5552 www.corpuscremations.com