Rosa Saucedo Obituary

Rosa Saucedo
09/14/1948 - 07/25/2025
A loving wife and mother, Rosa Elia Saucedo, 76, of Missouri City, Texas, passed away peacefully at her home on July 25, 2025. Rosa was born on September 14, 1948, in Laredo, Texas, to Manuel Avila Cruz and Maria Luisa Rodriguez. She lived in Missouri City, Texas, for the last twenty-two years, having previously resided in McAllen, Texas, and Port Arthur, Texas, where she worked as a school nurse and home health provider. She began her career working at St. Joseph's Hospital in Bryan, Texas, before moving to work in the Houston Medical Center. She graduated from Martin High School in 1966 and received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Texas Woman's University in 1970.

Rosa knew she wanted to be a nurse her entire life, and in high school, Rosa was a member of Student Council, Pan American Student Forum, and Future Nurses Club. In her senior year, Rosa asked her future husband, Roldolfo Saucedo, Jr, to the prom. On the night of the dance, the two spent hours discussing their hopes and dreams for the future. Rodolfo knew then that this was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, struck by her passion for caring for others and her ambitious plans for her future as a nurse. Rosa and her husband, Rodolfo, were married in 1969 in Laredo, Texas, and celebrated their 55th anniversary in September of this past year.

When her daughters were younger, Rosa spent many years working as a Girl Scout troop leader. Through her work as a school nurse, Rosa would go above and beyond to connect with the children she cared for. For her work as a school nurse, Rosa was recognized with a prestigious Golden Apple Award. Throughout her professional and personal life, Rosa had a profound influence on the lives of her grandchildren, nieces, nephews, Girl Scouts, friends, and neighbors. Beginning as a young woman, Rosa made many friends in her community, whether through school, work, or her neighborhood. The impact she had on the lives of not only her own family but also countless others through both her volunteer and professorial work is far-reaching.

Rosa retired from Gross Elementary in Houston, Texas, in 2010 to focus on her passions, including her art, spending time with her children and grandchildren, and providing full-time care for her husband. Rosa spent her life pursuing a variety of creative hobbies, including painting, mosaic, drawing, stained glass, sewing, gardening, and cross-stitching. Later in life, Rosa found an affinity for crime shows, action and horror movies, and musicals. She always enjoyed stretching her creative abilities to provide support for any unusual request that was brought to her - whether it was a family member in search of a unique Halloween costume or commissioned artwork for her son's work as a Creative Director for area movie theaters.

Rosa was always a champion and a cheerleader for her children, dropping whatever she was doing to provide encouragement, support, advice, or even answer a medical question. Rosa's compliments and feedback meant the world to her children, who all inherited her artistic passions and skills. She looked forward to her daily calls from her children and was eager to learn about their travels, adventures, and professional and personal achievements.

Rosa loved spending time in her garden, where she grew flowers and vegetables. She would always strive to beautify her surroundings, adding her plants, decorations, and her artwork to make her home an inviting and colorful space.

Rosa helped ensure that her children developed a lifelong appreciation for learning through projects and crafts. Rosa never hesitated to take her children to the library or show them a movie that might have a lasting impact on their lives. Rosa lovingly invited many a new animal into her home, expanding her family to include dogs, cats, hamsters, and fish over the years. In later years, Rosa had a close connection with her three grandchildren, constantly creating new games and art projects to keep them entertained. Her desire to stay up-to-date with the latest technology ensured her status as a cool grandmother remained unquestioned. Like she had introduced her children to the movies, music, books, and art that would shape their lives, she continued the tradition by ensuring an appreciation for the arts was instilled in her grandchildren.

Rosa is predeceased by her parents, Manuel Avila Cruz and Maria Luisa Rodriguez; her infant daughter, Sarah Anne; and her siblings, Manuel Cruz and Leticia Cruz Roberson. She is survived by her husband, Rodolfo; her children, Amy Chestnutt (Duane), Mary Bierds (Ryan), and Robert Saucedo (Lucia); grandchildren Johnny, Lexi, and Ben; her siblings, Yolanda (Pat), Lili, Roy, and Maria (Elton); and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

A funeral service will be held at Earthman Southwest Funeral Home, located at 12555 S Kirkwood Rd, Stafford, TX 77477, on Saturday, August 9, 2025, from 3 to 4 PM. Guests who attend are encouraged to honor Rosa's memory by wearing her favorite color, purple, or maroon in honor of her alma mater. In lieu of flowers, Rosa's family encourages donations made in her name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or the American Heart Association.