Rosa Maria Asuncion "Rosie" Navarro Patricio

Rosa Maria Asuncion Navarro Patricio lived 84 years with impact and difference, grace and beauty. She has touched the lives of many being a Rose of all trades. She was fondly called of different names Asun, Rosie, Cion, Auntie, Nay, Doctora, Manang, Lola but most dearly MAMA.

Rosie was born in Bauang, La Union, Philippines on August 30, 1935. She is the only biological daughter of Urbano Dumo Navarro and Mercedes Galvan Hidalgo who are both academician. Though, She had so many brothers and sisters by heart. She was married to Alfonso Vicente Patricio of Laoag City, Philippines in 1975. She is survived by her 3 children; Rosalie, Joseph and Martin (married to Joann Estipular Patricio) and a grandchild Jhomar.

She was a Great loving wife. She met Alfonso “ponsing” V. Patricio, a medical representative in a pharmaceutical company in the hospital where rosie works back in the 70’s. They lived a married life with ups and downs spending 24 years together before ponsing passed away in 1999. My father was also a jack of all trades being a family man, medical technologist, medical representative, lawyer, leader and public servant. Lately, my mom is singing “saan ka man Naroroon sinta”. I believe they are together again in heavenly bliss.

Rosie is by all means and essence a Mother. She braved high risk pregnancies in her 40s just to bring us into this world. She gave everything, practically everything to bring us her children up to whatever and wherever we are now. She has raised 2 doctors and a chef. She is the type “isusubo nalang ibibigay pa”. She would move heaven and earth just to provide for us. She would give up her possessions from jewelries, bank accounts and lands just for us. She guided us, cared for us, love us unconditionally. She never complains of anything in a way that she doesn’t want us to worry. We are forever grateful to you.

Grandmother. “Lola” as she fondly called by Jhomar, her only grandchild from Martin and Joann, is a loving grandmother. Rarely do you see Rosie in municipal events but she led our family to cheer for Jhomar in his singing contest, in his graduation on elementary even in a wheelchair. As much as possible, she would like to be with her grandson, provide for him, love him or simply kiss and hug him. She would say to me “wag mo pababayaan si Jhomar”….unknowingly, she would say the same to my sister Rosalie. She loves Jhomar so much.

Unica hija as she was, she has plenty of brothers and sisters by heart... and yes nieces and nephews down the line to grandchildren. Many call her auntie Rosie especially the Navarros, Hidalgos, Galvans, Patricios. We expressed gratitude to Lolo Banong and Lola Merced for the love of family that binds us together. Our relatives would attest that Auntie Rosie touched their lives and “health” at most, that she would sacrifice a lot for her family. Rosie is loved and respected by everybody.

Doctor Pediatrics /family practice. She graduated Medicine from the royal and pontifical university of the Philippines, The University of Santo Tomas in 1959. From then she trained in Harlem New York initially as Obstetrics and Gynecology resident but eventually shifted to finish Pediatrics. Her love for her hometown and family brought her back to the Philippines in the 70’s. She is a certified pediatrician yet practice obstetrics and family medicine catering to everybody even delivering babies. She then established ‘The Assumption Medical Clinic” located below our house in Bauang, La Union. I believe it is not income driven since she would receive chicken, fish, vegetables as professional fee. She made impact and difference in the lives of everybody. She was affiliated with several hospitals in La Union to include Bethany Hospital and Lorma Medical Center. She was also a teacher/mentor to nurses and midwives as she taught anatomy and delivering babies.

Leader. She held various key positions in the society eventually being the President of La Union Medical Society from 1979 to 1980. She also acted a member of the Local Health board of the municipality of Bauang, La Union. She made legacy in leadership as a doctor earning her The Most Outstanding Physician from various groups to include Philippine Medical Association, La Union Medical Society, Development Academy of the Philipines, and Association of Lady Physicians in the Philippines. These awards would vouch for her leadership already.

Friend. Rosie keeps abreast with her friends from elementary to high school to medical school. She would do as much as she could to keep in touch with her friends and still exchange notes and relived funny and memorable times spent. Rosie was known to be humble friendly smart and down to earth. Even after 50 years after high school, they still touch base with each other. Likewise, her friends from medical school to residency training in United states in America communicate with each other… namely Tita Linny and Tita Auring.

As a Devotee. She is very faithful to God. She would not miss a day without a prayer. Every day, she would hear mass. If she misses the Eucharistic celebration to the nearest church in our Municipality, the Sts peter & Paul Parish, she would have me drive to Pindangan Ruins. If and when she missed actual mass, she still has her EWTN app in her ipad and phone. Youtube also agrees with her hobby as she can easily search for Healing Eucharist mass from Abs-cbn, Quiapo church and from Our Lady of Manaoag. Clearly, she does not pass a day without a mass. Her favorite destinations always include a church be it in Angin, Pink sisters in Baguio. Moreover, she wished to go to Our Lady of Lourdes and Our Lady of Fatima Pilgrimage. We, especially my sister, gladly gave in to this. Her bed is actually full of Rosaries, crucifix, religious articles. She has the strongest of faith and lived a life of prayer.

Model/ entrepreneur. These past few years she has joined the business of Rosalie in Rodan & Fields in the name of beauty. It made her smile if somebody would buy products from her. She supported my sister and her team in their business – going to events, conventions and a spokesperson in their business launch events – she would tell their clients “you’re already beautiful but more beautiful if you buy our products”. She would not be caught off guard with-out a lipstick, combed hair and colorless nails. She is a testimony that beauty and business has no age limit. The R&F business hits two birds with one stone… having a business for residual income and proclaiming beauty at its finest.

Traveler. Asuncion has roamed the world when she was young. She has witnessed Niagara Falls on both ends, watched Eiffel tower by night, roamed the streets of India and Thailand, prayed with the pilgrim of Lourdes, crossed USA from east to west, watched matadors in a bull fight just to name a few. But family time changes priorities and made her wanderlust soul stopped a bit. After her children finished education and obtained their respective degrees, nothing can stop her wandering feet even in a wheelchair. Lately, she loved the music of Mariachi while watching the dolphins in the sea of Cabo san Lucas, returned to the Marian Pilgrimage in Europe particularly in Lourdes, joined the nightly procession in Fatima, cruised the world famous waterway of san Antonio Texas, braved the skywalk of Grand Canyon even on a wheelchair. She is testament that age and physical disability is no barrier when it comes to travel. Tiring and exhausting to push her wheel transport but looking in her smile makes it all worthwhile.

Fighter. Silent as she is, she has endured various surgeries and chronic conditions. She has undergone Total abdominal hysterectomy with oophorectomy for the uterine cancer, changed the lens of both eyes, faced cardiac catheterization; defied diabetes mellitus, hypertensive cardiovascular disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation and sick sinus syndrome just to name a few. Rosie’s heart touched many people around that we needed to extend it functioning with a pacemaker inserted in 2016. Since then, she has seen various medical services from different hospitals and emergency departments in Las Vegas, Big Bear, Ventura and back to La Union Philippines. She is indeed a silent fighter till she needed to rest and be without Eternal Father in heaven past 3pm of December 28, 2019.

Rosie lived a virtuous and honorable life with various roles touching everybody with a golden heart. She will always be a part of us. She will always be a special memory.