Carimay M. Santos

Carimay “May” Marquez Santos passed away on March 21st, 2018, at 12:27 p.m. after a 16 year battle with glioblastoma stage IV multiforme brain tumor.  She passed peacefully at her home surrounded by her husband, children, parents, brother, aunt, and other family members. 

May was born on May 10, 1976, in Great Lakes, Illinois, to Jerry and Anita Marquez. As part of a US Naval family, she lived in Florida, Virginia Beach, Alameda, California, Bangor, Washington, and Bainbridge Island, Washington. She attended Ordway Elementary School, Commodore Middle School, and Bainbridge Island High School. May was also part of the Filipino Dance group of Bainbridge Island.

May attended Seattle Central Community College before transferring to Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.  She returned  to Seattle Central Community College before moving to Pullman, Washington to continue her studies at Washington State University (WSU). Later, she entered the Intercollegiate Center for Nursing Education program of Washington State University in Spokane, Washington. She completed her degree in Nursing in 2001. At WSU, she was the Activities Coordinator for the Filipino American Student Association (FASA) and coordinated the Washington State FASA Conferences, where she honed her skills for organizing. 

May was passionate about women’s rights and in 2001 founded Gabriela Seattle, an organization of women who are working to build a community in the Seattle area invested in educating, defending, and advocating for the human rights of Filipinas globally.

After graduating, May was employed at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle where she worked in the Oncology/HIV unit throughout her career. May loved being a nurse.

May’s love, thoughtfulness, humor, and brilliance will be missed forever by her large network of family, friends, and colleagues.

May leaves behind her husband, David Santos, her children, Diego Marquez Velez, Isaiah Marquez Santos, AniLia Marquez Santos, Jeremiah Santos, and Rosalyn Santos. She is also survived by her parents, Jerry and Anita Marquez, her brother and sister-in-law, Jerry and Janis Marquez, nieces and nephews, Dylan Amick, Justin Pennington, Tyler Marquez, Talynn Marquez, Kaylee Hazlett-Marquez, and great-nephew, Kekoa Halican.

A viewing, rosary, and mass is scheduled for Saturday, March 24th, 2018, 12:30 p.m. at St Stephen the Martyr Church

13055 SE 192nd St, Renton, WA. All are welcome to attend.