Felix Bess Santiago

Felix Bess Santiago, 79, of Killeen, Texas, passed away on Saturday, May 13, 2023. A funeral service will be held on Monday, May 22 at Harper-Talasek Funeral Home, beginning at 10 am with Pastor Wilfredo Feliciano officiating. A visitation will be held at the funeral home on Sunday, May 21, from 3-5 pm. Burial will take place at St. Raymond’s Cemetery in Bronx, New York, at a later date.

Felix was born on May 26, 1943, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to parents, Tadeo Bess and Ines Santiago. In 1963, Felix moved to New York City, later marrying Iris Bess in 1968. They spent many years in New Yorck City, as Felix was a dietary supervisor for 40 years at the Metropolitan Jewish Nursing Home. During the 1980’s, Felix spent time in Waukegan, Illinois.

As a young man, Felix Bess Santiago was a very honorable gentleman, treated everyone he met as if they were family, and accepted responsibilities that rose above and beyond what was expected of him. He enjoyed playing dominoes, cooking, and traveling, especially to Panama and Hawaii. His true passion though, was to help those around him. Felix never met a stranger and took pride in lending a hand any way that he could and truly did whatever he felt was necessary, such as counseling young people, advising family and friends on life issues, and even becoming head of transportation to get friends and his Mount Sinai Christian Church family where they needed to go.

Felix Bess Santiago was preceded in death by his wife, Iris Bess; father, Tadeo Bess; mother, Ines Santiago; sisters, Maria, Patricia, and Irma; brothers, Alfredo, Victor, Alfredo Jr., Tadeo Jr., Carlos, and Juan.

Those left to cherish his memory are his sister, Brunilda; brothers, Ralph and Luis; daughters, Diana, Jenny, Celeste, Betty, and Santa; sons, Roberto and Phillip; son-in-laws, Juan De La Espada and Bert Escalet; 17 grandchildren, as well as many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Family members in attendance for the services are Jenny Bess Escalet and husband, Bert; Diana Bess De La Espada and husband, Juan; Yajaira De La Espada, Emmanuel De La Espada, and Nathanniel De La Espada; Olivia Bess Taplin, Danthony Taplin, and Dontrell Taplin.