Remembering Ian victims: 73-year-old woman dies in East Naples home

Rose Marie Santangelo had her East Naples home custom-built.

There are palm trees in the front yard and it’s painted pink with white accents. The Rivard Road home suffered a catastrophic storm surge.

The 73-year-old was supposed to spend the rest of her life there.

Instead, Santangelo was one of five people who died in Collier County because of Hurricane Ian. Across the state, more than 100 people died.

“It was, you know, her first time that she ever owned a property there,” said Rose Marie’s niece Phyllis Santangelo. “She was just tickled. She was beyond proud of herself. We were all proud of her too. And she said this is, this is where I’m gonna end up. This is where I’m going to, you know, retire.”

Phyllis lives in Youngstown, Ohio.

She said her aunt’s life was beautiful.

“Her infectious laugh; she had this unique laugh and a lot of her friends, no one can duplicate it,” Phyllis said.

Phyllis’ smile turned to tears when she talked about Hurricane Ian.

The storm surge went up to her aunt’s ankles, then her calves and eventually over her head.

“I was told that there was like a 12-foot water surge that came through,” Phyllis said.

Phyllis begged and pleaded for a neighbor to go and break down her aunt’s door, where they found her body.

Phyllis said she wishes her aunt had evacuated.

“I’m not gonna say we told you to leave. I’m not gonna say that. I’m gonna say that I wish you left,” Phyllis said. “I wish you would have more time. You know, she was like a second mother to me. That’s how much we talk and that I’m gonna miss her forever. And that she was always so happy when we got together … I just would say to her one more time. I love you. And then I just wish we had more time. That’s all.”

If your loved one didn’t make it through Ian, email us at tips@winknews.com.