Rosario "Chato" Luber

Rosario Javier Luber, lovingly known by most as Chato, was The Queen of the Universe, The Light of Our Life, Our Most Adorable Love, Our Biggest Fan, Our Sweetest Hero. She was Mama, Lola, Ate, Anak, Nekong, Tita, Kumadre, Friend, Wife, Loved One, and more to countless people from around the World.

She was born on September 16th, 1945, in Lopez, Quezon Province. Since she was a child, she lit up rooms no matter where she went, smiling at strangers, making small talk with anyone in line at the grocery store, lighting up with glee every time she saw children that warmed her heart, and simply existing in the spaces she loved, revered, danced, and played mahjong, bingo or poker.

Chato was undeniably one of the strongest women that ever walked on this Earth. Her laughter, her stories, her distinct and ferocious voice… She explored everything she could, with love, curiosity and complete awe. She loved asking questions and hearing and telling stories with and to people from around the world. Even if you met her once, you could never, ever forget her.

After retiring early at aged 55 from UCLA’s Medical Billing Department, she pursued her life’s deepest passions: her only daughter Jade, her grandson Xander, assisting as the co-matron of the Javier family, and her greatest expertises: dancing, singing, sharing laughter, cooking, poker, bingo, and mahjong.

Chato was one of the most generous people and she loved to shower people with love, jokes, entertaining tales, and beautiful memories of the life that she started in the Philippines, moving to Michigan, then choosing in California. She accomplished so much after retiring that she became an important pillar in her communities in California and in her homeland, even though she only went back a few more times.

She was a devout Roman Catholic and she traversed on cruises to Alaska and Mexico and she even lived in Mexico! She wanted to visit churches in every single city she went to, whether or not they were Catholic churches. She spent six unforgettable months with her favourite, La Virgen de Guadalupe, Xand, and with Jade, attending several parties and co-hosting poetry and music nights all over Ciudad de México. She traveled to as many cities, states and countries that she could, and we had many more plans to go on cruises and other continents to revel and love.

Chato should have lived to over 100. Alas, her memory, stories, presence and legacy will never fade with those that love and know her. She will continue to bless, love, remind and encourage all of us, every single day, for all of time. She loved us all and she was so proud of every single one of the people she ever met and knew her entire life. There will never be another Chato like Our Chato.