Sunrise:  Nov 12, 1920 Sunset: Tuesday, Feb 7, 2017 6:53 PM "Se fue nuestra Rosita" (Our Rosa is gone.) Rosa Arjona was born November 12, 1920 in the city of Los Santos, Panamá. Ciudad de Los Santos—the City Of Saints—so apt for a woman who lived a life of holiness and self-sacrifice to God and cared for so many. She was considered a gift from God. Rosa was one of five children of her father, José Patrocinio Rivera and mother, Dolores Villarreal. Her 3 living siblings all whom still live in Panama are: Ana, José Julio (CheJulio) and Amparo; Alicia, her 4th sibling passed away in 2016. Rosa was a pioneer and leader. She was the only one from her family to leave her country and roots in 1988 and come to the United Sates. She became a US citizen on April 8th, 1994 scoring 100% on her citizenship exam. With such a sharp mind she assimilated well into life in the USA voting every year in American politics and debating vigorously at times for matters of justice that she felt strongly about. The weak, the underserved, the marginalized, the poor were those she cared for most and defended them with her vote and her sharp logic. News shows were what she watched regularly so she stayed up on local, national and international issues. You could not take the remote away from her when her Univision was on. There was not a current topic that she did not know about. Anything that she learned she would share so you could not fool her. For relaxation and fun, she did enjoy the Latino Soap Operas on TV and marveled and laughed at the crazy things that people did. Many times she played the numbers and enjoyed trying her also at BINGO. She was a mother of mothers, a dedicated wife of 77 years and loved abundantly. With her late husband, Diomedes Francisco Arjona (Bellido, passed away at the age of 99, June 6, 2004), she raised her children, and partially raised her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and lived long enough to become a great great-grandmother. Despite the great number of those family members closest to her, she had enough love overflowing for her siblings, stepsisters, stepbrothers, nieces, nephews, other close or distant relatives, friends and neighbors in the cities blessed by her presence. In Panama she lived in Los Santos, El Chorrillo, San Miguelito, Carrasquilla and Juan Diaz. In the USA she lived in Severn, Maryland and Queens, New York. Rosa even cared for dogs, cats, parakeets, parrots and even a monkey at one point when she lived in Panama. As a faithful catholic woman she served her community. Her participation in of the order of Mary Knolls was significant. She was a community organizer in Panama and initiated and led social campaigns to fight cancer detection before there was regular screening of women. Rosa taught women how to check for breast lumps and pushed for early treatment in an age where it was difficult for the feminine voice to be heard. Government leaders were foolish to not listen to her because she got things done. Leading a directive for cancer detection and becoming a promoter of parenting classes, she served her parishioners and the needy and even met former Chilean President, Salvador Allende due to her outspoken advocacy for the unheard. Since she respected fellow Christians of other denominations, Rosa joined hands to take care of widows, orphans, complete strangers and even bravely and single-handedly confronted men known to be physically abusive to their wives or partners. If you loved God and showed it by serving others, she partnered with you. No one was bolder, you can say that she was a lioness protecting her cubs and at the same time hunted for the pride: A balance of love and power. All of her ministry work was done in front of her children so that they could witness a life of dedication to Christ and fellow man. Yet, she did not neglect her family responsibilities. By working alongside her husband to raise their children—she was definitely a strong and dedicated disciplinarian—she even supplemented the household income with her skills as a seamstress and dress maker. Rosa is known throughout her town in Panama as a skilled wedding and bridesmaid's dress maker. She has made nurse's uniforms and hospital scrubs for surgical staff and even made athletic wear for the Mauricio Sportswear Company when they had contracts in Panama to manufacture NBA athletic wear. If her labor of love to others and her help to her husband in sustaining the home finances was not enough, she seemed to still find time to keep God first. Nothing drained her time enough to cause her to neglect her personal walk with Christ. Prayer was everything to her. She communed with "Her God"—her Diosito—as if He was her best friend. God and Rosa were on close terms throughout her whole life and she attributed her success and impact to the power of God's Spirit within her. Her strength was such that it seemed as if her faith never wavered, yet in her prayer closet she cried out and wept tears of supplication to The One whom she knew could do ALL things according to His good and perfect will—something she was very in tune with. A problem was really a challenge to her, a setback was an exercise in patience, danger was for practicing faith, and doubt was for strengthening her connection with God. Nothing choked out her belief that God was totally in charge of this world and of the entire universe. Nothing prevented her from glorifying Jesus Christ. With such bold approach to life and towards everything that God allowed in her life, she did not judge others harshly yet would confront if someone needed correction or rebuke. She could disagree with you and still love you dearly. When you made mistakes she embraced you and not only spoke of God's forgiveness but showed you God's grace, love and direction in right. She wiped away your tears and made you believe in yourself as one of God's children that just needed to come home and sit down at the Father's feet again and learn more.  We have been blessed by how she lived her life in our presence. All of this demonstrated a life of self-sacrifice and love for her neighbor as Christ directed her in her catholic faith. She is survived by her 2 sisters and brother; 7 of her 8 children: Elpidia Dolores, Daniel Antonio, Vilma Mercedes, Maria Elena (Lelin, who died at 3 years of age), Diomedes José, Roberto Eliecer, Argelis Amalia, and Julio Cesar; 19 grandchildren, 44 great-grandchildren and 1 on the way, and 1 great great-granddaughter. We called her Rosa, Rosita, Abuelita, Abuela, Máma or Mamá, Nana Rosa, Mama Rosa, Rosita la de Bellido, Rosa la de Belle, and some claimed her for themselves, calling her Mi Rosita, Mi Viejita, Mi Abuela, Mi Abuelita, or the best one of all, My Squishy Abuela. There are no words to describe the void that her passing has left in many; nonetheless, she has filled us with so much love that if we are true to her example of Christlikeness, we will likewise overflow with care for others and the actions to show it. Let us live on as Our Rosita modeled and it will be Christ whom we glorify. "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want…Follow me as I follow Christ."