Rosalina Gaytan Lopez

Ms. Rosalina Gaytan Lopez, 64 years, was born on September 6, 1955, in a small pueblo call Atenquique municipal of Tuxpan, Jalisco, Mexico. Her parents were Juan Gaytan Rivera and Hilaria Lopez Reynaga. At the age of six, her mother dies giving birth to her last sibling. Upon her mother's death, Rosalina and eleven other siblings separated, some were said to go live with aunts. Rosa stays with her father and just a few of her other siblings. Rosa had to learn how to care and clean for herself and her siblings at a very young age. She was only able to attend school until 4th grade. Rosa also helps her father learn how to write his name and sign. During her adolescent years, Rosa helps her father establish a small candy and fresh fruit booth in front of her tiny house. That helped bring in some income to buy basic needs. She would help her older sisters, aunts with household chores for food and help neighbors iron, make homemade tortillas, hand wash laundry to earn income for the family and buy food for her siblings. Rosalina married young in her mid-seventeen years of age. She had her first child Maria G. R. Gaytan, at the age of eighteen. Rosa's marriage was short-lived when her husband decided to move to the southern region of Mexico in search of a better job, and shortly after did not return home.

New Journey

Ms. Rosalina Gaytan Lopez decided to move north to start a new life journey with Maria, who was only a little over one year old. She migrates to Los Angeles, California, in December 1975 in search of "The American Dream." In Los Angeles, on her arrival, she temporarily stayed with her brother Javier Gaytan, wife Angela and family. After experiencing many struggles and discrimination, trying to find a job. Rosa established employment after several weeks, in a textile factory as a textile trimmer. Rosa then moves again with her brother Ruben Gaytan, wife Carmen and family for a couple of months until she found a small apartment near her job. Rosa continues to care for her father and siblings in Mexico. She would write to her father to send them money.

A New family

Rosa was very beautiful as a child and an attractive woman. Approximately three years later (1978) of her arrival, she met a domestic partner and had more children. Her family grew with a total of 6 children. Maria G. R. Gaytan, Yesenia R. Gaytan, Gerardo R. Gaytan, Federico R. Gaytan, Santos R. Gaytan, and Rosalina R. Gaytan. After the birth of her third child, she decided to stop working and care for her family. Through the years, she also helped family members who migrated to California and stayed in her small two-bedroom house. Rosa would receive them with warm hospitality, kindness, and care. She was a great cook, made delicious meals, kept a clean and tidy home for everyone. Rosa also assisted in caring, praying for sick family members and friends. Her kindness extended to her neighbors. Rosa offered visitors a cup of water or coffee and food always. As she would say, "tomese un cafecito y comase un taquito." She would quietly listen to everyone's problems and then would say words of hope, wisdom, and encouragement that would help them be at peace or solve their problems. For that, she was better known as Doña Rosita, Rosa, or Tia Rosa. She found joy in helping others, loved music, doing outdoor activities, and was a very happy person.

Adversities

Unfortunately, when she stopped working, there were limited funds to take care of her family. She had to overcome adversities, such as limited resources, low income, and domestic violence. A very short temporary separation from her children removed to foster care. Yet, the children return within days to Rosa because the judge deemed, they had all fallen victims of an untoward situation. By 1992, Rosa became a single mother once again but was much happier. None the less, she continued to help family, friends, neighbors, migrants, homeless people, with a caring heart and God's blessings.
Service to the community

As her children grew, she volunteered at Carver Middle school. Attended PTA meetings, school district board meetings with the school principal. She advocated for student's success, better school supplies, books, healthier lunches, shaded lunch areas, and more resources for students, more security patrolling for the elimination of gang violence, and drug sales surrounding the school campus. She received an award for parent volunteer and advocacy. School staff, faculty, and students much appreciated her contribution.

Living "The American Dream"

The opportunity arises, and Rosa was able to purchase the home she had lived in for over twenty years. A two-property lot with over 10, 000 sq. feet in Los Angeles with the help of her daughter Maria, nephews Julio and Vicente. She had returned to work for a few years but realize that her children still needed her at home, so she resigned from working again. At the time, she also became the neighborhood mom. She would always have a warm breakfast to feed her children and their friends whom parents were at work. She continued to volunteer at school. After school, she had fresh warm cooked meals and made extra food for the other kids. She would give all the teenagers advice to stay out of trouble and go to college. On the weekends, her house was the hanging outhouse for most of her kids' friends that play sports in the back yard or watch movies in her living room. They enjoyed homemade snacks and meals. Everyone loved, respected her; some of the kids would call her "mama" or "mama drama." She gave unconditionally and never expected any monetary pay.

Rosalina achieved her "American Dream" through her children's achievements and graduations. Rosa had always encouraged her children to do well in school. She said to them, "get good grades, be great, and don't worry about money for college. God will help us find a way." She was a woman of great faith. She was elated with joy when she received academic excellent awards, honor roll, leadership awards, from her children. She attended the councilman recognition award ceremony. She took pictures with the Los Angeles, Mayor. One of her sons received governor award recognition. She got a tour of the White House outside upon her daughters' graduation in Washington, DC. Attended to important company dinners with her daughters and son. To her strong faith in God's work, her children achievements prevail as follow.


Maria G. R. Gaytan, MSN, RN, ER department nurse. MSN-Family Nurse Practitioner program completion for the class of 2020. She received multiple awards in academic honor roll awards at L.A Trade Technical City College 2000, 2001 & Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, honors, leadership awards 2018 & 2020. She has completed a total of four degrees, tutored university students, and was a student representative. Volunteer as a school board member for Field of Dreams Charter School. Advocates for nurse's safety have published a story on Stat Boston online article, attended OSHA meetings to advocate for nurse's safety. At the Western Institute of Nurses, she did a research presentation. She has been on TV news a couple of times. She started in her nursing career as a student nurse assistant during high school years. Received a certificate for Medical Assistant/ Phlebotomist and EKG tech from trade school and worked while completing college. Over twenty-eight years of nursing experience. Single mother of five children, Mariah S. Banks, Henry A. Banks, Crystal L. Ramirez, Jose A. Ramirez Jr., and Jonathan A. Ramirez.


Yesenia R. Gaytan, BSN, RN, ICU nurse. She received Award of Merritt from City Council members in 1996, Mayor Richard Riordan of L.A., recognition of high honors academic achievement and scholarship to Howard University. Was on TV interview during her undergraduate years, she works as a student senior nurse until she graduated. Attended Fuller Theological Seminar for MS in divinity (work in progress), where she met her husband, and married to Victor Vasquez has a daughter Yesenia V. Gaytan Vasquez (baby yesi). Yesenia R. Vasquez has over twenty-two years of nursing experience. She also serves her community as a Resident Leadership Academy member for Orange, County, is school parent advocate in Buena Park school district. A member of the F.I.T committee. She Received Assembly Certificate of Recognition for Buena Park school district 4th annual parent conference.


Gerardo R. Gaytan AA, Fashion designer, won a gold thimble at LA Trade Technical City College. A fashion show, honor roll designer, multiple fashion shows, received recognition for one of the Best upcoming fashion designers by California Governor, A. Schwarzenegger. Fashion professor at LA Trade Technical City College for a couple of years. He designed for several artists, initiated Mila Jovovich's clothing line, Jenny Rivera personal designer for a few years, Brittney Spear, Cilo Green, Kim Kardashian, and many more artists. Designed for several movies, art costumes, like "The hunger games II" and several other movies, projects, his specialty red carpet couture dresses, also designs prom and wedding dresses. He has been on several TV interviews. Single.


Federico R. Gaytan, Certified Air Conditioner Technician. Landscaping & Gardening, Tree Trimming combine business. Single, with two Daughters Crie Magdalena R. Jimenez, Giah Marie R. Jimenez.


Santos R. Gaytan, AA in Autobody, Certification Business management, repair, painting, and auto detailing. Academic Achievements and honor roll awards. Single


Rosalina R. Gaytan, Medical Assistant/Phlebotomist. Honors recognition. Changed her trade to Manager in the food industry when she relocated to South San Diego, CA county. A single mother of three children, Christopher Perez, Sassha Rivera, Joseph Rivera.


Rosalina always acknowledges her children's success. She stated, "your success is my success; for that, I am blessed and very grateful." Needless to say, that she was right! Her children's good grades allow them to get scholarships and grants for college. The encouragement for higher education passed on to her grandchildren. Who also have received academic achievement awards, honor roll awards, principal honor roll, sports trophies, medals, sports awards, city Assembly certificates, Sheriff department awards, and Presidential Outstanding Academic Achievement Awards signed by President Obama.

Relocating

A few years later, Rosalina had to move from her big home and relocated to a smaller home, declining several offers from Maria and Gerardo to buy her a home away from Los Angeles. She could have more space and enjoy her grandchildren, Mariah, Henry, Crystal, Junior, Christopher, Sassha, Cry, Yesenia, Gia, Joseph, and Jonathan, when they visited. Maria purchase a new car for her, very humble she told Maria "to take it back she did not wish to drive a car or have a bigger home." Rosa said she just wanted to be peaceful and to live in her community with family, friends, and neighbors she had to establish. Maria granted her wishes. Her grandchildren were her love. Above all, she protected them and cooked their favorite meals for them, just like she did for her children or on special occasions. She always had their gifts ready. Everyone enjoyed being at "Lita" house as her grandchildren call her, short for "Abuelita". She would be so happy when everyone was over because she loved cooking, and her food was seasoned with so much love. She gave her grandchildren many blessings, loved, and spoil them. Everyone enjoyed her Tamales & Champurrado, including the rest of the family.

Loving Family and advocacy

Rosa's relationship with her brothers Ruben and Javier were of a loving sister. They all had a tight bond and helped each other through hardships. She encouraged them to apply for "amnistia" of 1986 and help them with the paperwork process so that they could obtain their residency card as she had done for herself and daughter. Her brother Ruben had become ill and wished to see his siblings from Mexico one last time. She advocated for her brother's wishes. Rosa eloquently spoke with the doctors and obtained a letter to take to the immigration department. Months later, five of her siblings had temporary visitor visas to come to visit Ruben. Rosa was happy that she was able to grant her brother's last wishes, before he passed away and few years later his wife Carmen also passed.She also stay in close contact with her brother Javier even-though he had moved to San Diego, County, until he passed away. Her nieces and nephews Beatriz, Carmen husband Vicente, Juan, Julia, Porfirio, Julio, Elsie, Michelle, and Ivan, Rosa, Chuyito, David, Rosaelena have kept in contact with Tia Rosa. Now her brother Eugenio Gaytan and wife Maria visit a few times a year, when they are with their daughters Rosario, husband Samuel, their children Melissa, Samuelito, Jose, Ali and their other daughter Cheli, husband Juan, children Juanito and Erick they all visit have all kept in contact with "Tia Rosa". Everyone loved "Tia Rosa" they all checked on her well being. She also has a long list of brothers and sisters, great nieces and nephews, cousins, so much more family in Mexico, through out California and the United States. There was so much that she did for her family. Rosalina did everything through her faith in the lord and prayer.

The last years

As a Reflection upon the time till Rosalina's last days, Rosa had developed health problems with some common illnesses with multiple health comorbidities. Overseeing her care was her daughter Maria during the most critical changes in her health. Then she recovered for a short period. Rosa wanted to move with her son Santos. Who also helped with her care with the assistance of his sister Maria and Yesenia. Unfortunately she became sicker. She resided in Huntington Park, CA, at the time of her passing.On August 9, 2020, at 9:26 pm in the hospital near her home.

Rosalina Gaytan Lopez left her six children, eleven grandchildren, to answer God's calling. A large extended family of sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, friends, and neighbors that loved and respected her. God has now released Rosalina from illness, pain, and adversities. Rosalina was a loving, kind, caring, daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, aunt, friend, and neighbor. Who always lived with faith in God, prayer, and altruism. She accomplished many achievements throughout her life with her faith and received much of God blessings. Rosalina's loving memory will always live in our hearts. We will meet with Rosalina again upon the calling of the lord. Rosalina's children and grandchildren will carry on her love and legacy.


Tribute

"Dear mother, for forty-six years, we were inseparable. I know now you are resting in perfect peace. I know you are now with God. However, I can help but wish that you did not have to go and that I could be with you. Mother, you were my greatest strength and unconditional love. You will forever live in my heart and soul. Your happiness, smile, kindness, and advice are vivid in my mind. I will forever cherish them and all the memories of our times together. I love you". (M. Gaytan, 2020)


On behalf of the Gaytan family, special thank you for the expression of sympathy, condolences, prayers, and support during this hard time. We appreciate all your time on this matter, flowers and expressions of love.




Service

Arrangements are under the direction of Forest Lawn, Cypress, California.


Forest Lawn Memorial-Park Mortuaries
Date: Wednesday, September 9,2020 @1:00 pm
Ascension Mosaic Forest Lawn Cypress
4471 Lincoln Ave.
Cypress, CA90603