Mrs. Rosalia Castaneda's Obituary
Rosalía Castañeda Díaz, 85, wife of the late Ramón Rogelio “Rojito” Castañeda, passed away peacefully on April 22nd, 2018 at 10:15 p.m.
Rosalía is preceded in death by Rojito, her beloved husband of 35 years and her parents Emilio Díaz y Dolores Sorí. She leaves many precious memories to be cherished by her loving daughters Sonia (David) Serrano, Carmen (Arturo) Serrano, María (Gilbert Ramírez) Castañeda and Lourdes (Mike) Weneck; and eight devoted grandchildren: Danya Corkin, Edgar Serrano, Gretchen Abi Daher, Nolan Vander Haagen, Alex Serrano, Amanda Ramírez, Samantha Roscoe-Hudson and Kimberly Serrano.
Rosalía was born in Cienfuegos, Cuba to Emilio Díaz y Dolores Sorí on September 22nd, 1932. She fled to the United States after the Cuban Revolution with her three eldest daughters and husband. Living in Miami, Florida, she gave birth to her fourth daughter. Rosalia and her family later lived in Puerto Rico before moving to Houston, Texas. Rosalía was a dedicated wife and mother who enjoyed traveling with Rojito and her daughters, visiting historic homes, trying her luck in casinos and reliving the precious memories she created throughout her life in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Miami and Texas, while also creating new memories with the many relatives and friends that loved her.
For years, she poured her love into Cuban recipes and prepared meals for her grandchildren, daughters and son-in-laws, who would regularly come to Rosalía’s house during their lunch breaks to share a home-cooked meal and lively conversations around the kitchen table, a routine that her family will forever cherish.
She was a loving grandmother who supported her grandchildren in the pursuit of their dreams. “Abuel”, as they affectionately called her, took care of the grandchildren while their parents were at work, and allowed the children to turn her home into whatever they could imagine: a small town where they would act as bankers, shoppers and doctors, an indoor baseball field on rainy days and a loud center for ‘toca palo’ (hide and seek) marathons. As adults she encouraged them to work hard to achieve their goals. Whether it was academia, music, journalism, teaching, design or establishing families of their own, “Abuel” pushed them to be the best they could be, while emphasizing the importance of always loving each other and forever remaining a united family.
A service in her honor will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas on Saturday, April 28, 2018 at 11 a.m. Please join us as we celebrate her love and the life of a truly wonderful matriarch that will be deeply missed.
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