Rosemary S. Roberts

Rosemary Sandoval Roberts, 84, entered into the Hands of God in the afternoon of Sunday, July 7, 2013. She passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family and friends following a long illness. Rosemary was born on October 16, 1928, in San Antonio, Texas. She is preceded in death by her husband John Viggo Roberts. A resident of Scottsdale, Arizona, for 44 years, Rosemary had many challenges in her life following his death and met them all with courage and a steadfast faith in God and her family. Rosemary was a 44-year member of St. Daniel the Prophet Catholic Church, where she was actively involved. She served as president of the Women’s Club, president of the Legion of Mary, was a member of the Sodality for 14 years, was involved in the Rosary Group and taught religious education. She worked for many years as a Spanish interpreter for the parish priests and also served as a Eucharist Minister, taking Holy Communion and prayers to residents of retirement homes, including a ministry to a group of women suffering from Alzheimer’s.

Rosemary was a Girl Scout leader, a Red Cross volunteer, and election polling supervisor. She was always involved in her children’s schools and activities, and was vice president of the Hohokam Elementary School PTA. She worked for Scottsdale Schools, spending four years at Chaparral High School as a special assistant to a student with muscular dystrophy (Mark), who was the most physically challenged boy to be integrated into high school at that time. In her youth, Rosemary graduated from Ursuline Academy and attended Our Lady of the Lake College. She was active in San Antonio society, making her debut at the Selene Club’s Black and White Ball. She later served as president of the Selene Club, comprised of young women whose parents had been born in Mexico, and met her husband at one of the club’s events that was attended by officers of many military bases near San Antonio. While her husband was in the Air Force, she was active in the Officers’ Wives Club for 17 years, including serving as secretary.

Rosemary is survived by her sister, Laura E. Flores, and brother Tom M. Sandoval (Bobbi), both of San Antonio, Texas; her four children, Maren “Mari” Raccuia (Tony), of Gilbert, John David Roberts of Glendale., Laura Roberts Keefe (Christopher Murphy) of Gaithersburg, Md., and Nancy La Jeunesse (Tom) of Scottsdale; and grandchildren Kris Yost (Lori, and children Victoria and Alyssa) of Queen Creek, Az., Johnathan Yost (Mary) of Gilbert, Anthony Raccuia (Michelle Jacobs and son Auggie) of Mesa, Alisha Raccuia of Auwatukee, Daniel and Tom Keefe of Gaithersburg, Anna Murphy (Tom and children Wilford and Nelletta) of Puyallup, Wa., Zach La Jeunesse (Laura Naff and daughter Bella) of Scottsdale, and Kaitlyn, Sean and Leon La Jeunesse of Scottsdale. Also surviving are her long-term caregiver and “daughter” Colleen Marsh of Scottsdale, and “grandchildren” Meghan Marsh of Phoenix and David Marsh of Los Angeles. Rosemary always said, “I found my peace and blessings in my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.”

Visitation will be on Thursday, July 11, from 5-7 p.m., followed by the Rosary and a Wake from 7-9 p.m. at Green Acres Mortuary and Cemetery Chapel, 401 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale. A Mass of Celebration will be said at St. Daniel the Prophet Catholic Church, 1030 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale, with a reception following afterward. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the Valley.