Josefina Serrano-Rosas

Josefina Serrano Rosas was born on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1924 in Mexico City, Mexico. She passed peacefully into the presence of her creator on Sunday, March 1st, 2020 at her home in Chula Vista, CA.

Josefina attended school in Mexico City. She finished her high school studies with Honors at Chula Vista High School’s Adult Program. She graduated with Honors from Southwestern College and thereafter continued with college studies to become a Rehabilitation Counselor for the State of California. She achieved fluency in American Sign Language and became the Counselor for the Hearing Impaired. She retired after many years of service to people wanting to restart their lives following industrial injuries.

Her early work life included building warplanes for Convair and Rohr where during the war years she became a skilled blueprint reader and builder of airplanes. Tools and specs were familiar to her.

She loved to read on any topic and was always searching out new books. She shared her love of learning by teaching English as a Second Language, Creative Writing and promoting Adult Literacy. She was also a volunteer for the Chula Vista Library. She leaves many shelves of books behind.

She loved to travel and visited Russia, China, Europe, Egypt and made pilgrimages to the Holy Land with her grandchildren so they could be baptized in the River Jordan.

Josefina was married in 1939 in Mexico City. Following the death of her partner she and her two youngsters, Arturo and Sylvia, relocated to Tijuana, Baja California to the home of her aunt and uncle. In 1947 she met and soon married John Holmes, a U.S. Navy decorated World War II veteran. She bore him three children John Holmes Serrano, Lidia Holmes Sanchez and Daniel Paul Holmes.

Josefina was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Mr. John Holmes, eight brothers and sisters and her son Arturo. She is survived by her sister, Isabel Versluis, her children Sylvia, John, Lidia and Daniel, 15 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren and seven great-great grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life service will be announced after the current virus emergency has ended.