Ana Luisa Salinas

Ana Luisa Salinas was born on June 21,1943 in La Serena, Chile, daughter of the late Dr. Carlos Salinas and the late Dr. Victoria Cerda. Sister to the late Dr. Carlos F. Salinas of Mount Pleasant, SC and to the late Dr. Jorge Marcelo Salinas of Valdivia, Chile. She passed away on Friday, December 30, 2022. She is survived by her daughter, Ana Luisa Barnett of Farragut, TN; one son-in-law, Barry Barnett; two grandchildren, Ryan C. Barnett and Rachel E. Barnett and one brother, Cristian A. Salinas of Santiago, Chile and nieces and nephews from all three brothers: Esteban Salinas, Nico Salinas, Claudia Salinas, Alejandra Salinas, Cristobal Salinas, Carlos Salinas, Andres Salinas and Maria Salinas. Ana Luisa came to Oak Ridge, TN with her young daughter in 1972 following her then husband, Dr. Rene’ Sotomayor, who was working for ORNL. This was her second trip to the United States, the first being as a foreign exchange student scholarship recipient from the American Field Service representing Chile and studying in New York. From Oak Ridge the family moved to Munich, Germany where Ana Luisa got the opportunity to travel extensively: France, Spain, Austria, Hungary, Switzerland, England, and Greece. Upon her return to Knoxville she taught Spanish at Tates School of Discovery and later decided to pursue her masters degree at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Ana Luisa received her liciensatura en ciencias from the University of Chile in Santiago. She received her masters in Modern Foreign Language and Literature from the University of TN in Knoxville and finished all but her dissertation in the PhD program. While at UTK she was a Spanish lecturer in the department of Modern Foreign Language and the head of the cultural committee of HOLA. She helped organize the Hispanic Heritage Festival and the Parade of Nations where volunteers represented different countries, dressed in their native costumes and some performed typical dances from their countries. She loved her college students and taught at UTK for 30 years before retiring. Ana Luisa was a devoted daughter, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She was sharp- quick to notice or understand, creative, clever, compassionate, confident, loyal, nurturing and had the best sense of humor. In the past year her health declined but she never lost her ability to find something amusing in the situation. Her doctors at UTMC nicknamed her “the Chilean Spitfire”. Ana Luisa died peacefully at home surrounded by her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by her family and many friends. Receiving of friends will be Thursday, January 5, 4:00-6:00 pm, Rose Funeral & Cremation - Mann, 6200 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. Funeral Service will be Friday, January 6, 12:30 pm, St. John Newman Catholic Church, 633 St. John Court, Knoxville, TN 37934.

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Ana Luisa Salinas

June 21, 1943 - December 30, 2022