Rose M. Gibbons

The family of Rose Marie Gibbons is saddened to share the news of her passing on February 27, 2016 at Memorial Medical Center, Las Cruces, New Mexico. She now rejoices with her Lord Jesus Christ in the Kingdom of Heaven and shines over her loving family and friends. Rose was born August 6, 1938 in Los Angeles, California to Antonio Rojas Campos and Mary Rodriguez Campos. She was raised with her brother, Ernest R. Campos, whom she adored and loved her entire life. Rose spent almost every summer with her dearest cousin, Emilia, and their grandmother, Yaya, who taught them the traditions of their Aztec and Mexican heritage. Rose attended Sacred Heart High School in Lincoln Heights and graduated in 1956. She attended Nursing School and was working on continuing her nursing degree when she met the funny little Irishman that swept her off her feet while working at the Welch's Uniform Company. Rose was the secretary and John Thomas Gibbons, or "Jay", as she called him, was a newly graduated accountant who shot rubber bands at her behind. They formed an unbreakable bond and married September 23, 1961. Jay and Rose began their family with enthusiasm when they had their first three children, Maria, Anita, and William, in the years 1962, 1963, and 1964. Two years later they were blessed with another daughter, Linda, in 1966. In 1970, another son, Sean, solidified their Irish/Mexican heritage. Believing themselves to have a complete family they were both surprised to learn they were expecting their "Baby", Diana, in 1973. You might think such a large family would leave little time or ability for a young woman to accomplish anything else. Yet, this amazing woman spent countless hours sewing award winning costumes, creating new and inspired recipes, like her World Famous Chicken Enchiladas, as well as contributing to her family's income as a Licensed Practical Nurse, Librarian, and a Spanish Language Teacher. Rose was also the second mother to all of her children's friends, never turning away a hungry mouth or heart in need of mending. Throughout her life, Rose was also an animal lover and it never took any convincing for her to take in a stray having opened up her home to cats, dogs, birds, and rats alike. Rose and Jay raised their children in the South Bay area of Los Angeles, yet they chose to retire in the Southwestern haven of Las Cruces, New Mexico. They loved the Organ Mountains and the community that welcomed them into their homes and their Holy Cross Catholic Church. Here Rose contributed her bilingual skills and teaching abilities to establishing a top notch educational program that developed the speaking abilities of the students at Lynn Middle School while ensuring they obtained a fundamental education. For her success and her insurmountable efforts to the Teacher's Union, Rose was the inaugural inductee as a Teacher's Assistant to the National Education Association - New Mexico Southwestern Region's Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, Rose lost her loving husband, Jay, on December 1, 2008 and continued to be a loving mother to her six children. Rose is survived by those same loving six children and their spouses, Clifford Gurrola, Bill Dieringer, Jerry Rossi, and her 13 glorious grandchildren: Felix, Phillip, Sarah, Frank, and Fernando Gurrola, Shauna Echeverria and her husband Bobby; Christopher and Brandy Clark, and Selena Rossi; Kyle and Cory Gibbons; and Jonathan and Danielle Dieringer. Rose is also so fortunate to have enjoyed the love of two great-grandchildren Baily and Bella Rose Echeverria. Rose will be remembered at a Rosary Vigil at the Holy Cross Catholic Church on Thursday, March 3, 2016 at 5pm. A funeral mass will be held for Rose on Friday, March 4, 2016 at 1:30 pm. Family and close friends are invited to attend. Rose's cremains will be delicately handled by Getz Funeral Home and she will be interred alongside her beloved "Jay" in the columbarium of the St. Francis Gardens at Holy Cross Catholic Church. PDF Printable Version