Roslyn Cruz

March 3, 1961 – August 8, 2015

Born the third child to the late Ricardo Cruz and wife Frances, Rosalinda or more popularly known by friends as Roslyn, was the typical middle child – quiet but independent, fearless and extremely driven.

INDEPENDENT

She had a mind of her own and charted her own path. She went to school in the College of the Holy Spirit and Sienna College in Manila. She was into arts and music as a member of the Glee Club, and a perennial volunteer assigned to decorate the bulletin boards and theater stage for events. With a passion for graphic arts, she pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture in the University of Santo Tomas, Manila.

Roslyn started as a draftsperson for a local US architectural firm and went on to design a complete brand profile for Arco gas station, which is still in use to this day.

When the economy slowed down and demand for her type of work was lacking, she joined the US postal workforce. She was a fast and eager learner. Her dedication, drive and excellent people skills got her started as a mail handler and moved all the way to Relief Supervisor.

HARDWORKING

Roslyn enjoyed her work and showed it in many ways. She worked hard, and as husband Carlos puts it, “She worked as hard as a man.” She would lift heavy magazine packages weighing 50-70 lbs., was comfortable with pallet jacks, and drove the mule with ease. Roslyn made the rounds of all the departments and even as Acting Supervisor, she knew more than the ones that held the title officially. She made it a point to learn everything there was to know about the operations so much so that what took 2-3 Supervisors to do, she did all by herself.

DEDICATED & DRIVEN

She was always at work, was never late, hardly got sick, worked over time, stayed late, took on holiday shifts and offered to work for others when they could not. Roslyn would sign her husband Carlos up for extra work without him knowing about it. She was fiercely committed to work and at one point, had accumulated as much as 12.5 months of sick leave.

KIND & GIVING

Roslyn extended that love for work to her co-workers. She made easy friends and was well liked by all. No one had anything negative to say about her. They reciprocated her love by answering her request to have them work for her on her behalf when she had to take an extended medical leave.

TAKE CHARGE ATTITUDE

Roslyn took full charge of her medical care. She wrote down everything and needed no reminders. She kept her medical appointments religiously and followed doctor’s instructions to the letter. She catalogued each and every treatment detail down to dates, medications, prognosis, treatment schedule, fees, etc. Pages upon pages of spreadsheets on her six-year treatment filled her computer.

She administered her own medications and could reach out for the correct bottle even in the dark. The amount and variety of her meds did not faze her. She was determined to ease her burden and enjoy the remaining days of her short life.

PASSIONATE ABOUT FOOD

Work was her first passion but Roslyn was equally obsessed about food. To those who know her, Roslyn is not one to pass on any chance to eat. Whether it be at hole-in-the-walls, food trucks or specialty restaurants, she will go for it. In fact quite often, the itinerary for the day is designed to accommodate a stop at a favorite eatery or a popular joint. With a twinkle in her eye and filled with anticipation, her typical line would be – “Where are we going to eat?”

Among the places Roslyn frequented include Shogun, Beef Bowl, Yoshinoya, Black Angus and The Hat. She loved Starbucks’ Mocha Frap, Red Ribbon’s ube (purple yam) cake, Max’s lumpia ubod (fresh egg roll with heart of palm). She enjoyed calamari, halo-halo (mixed beans with crushed ice), boba (tapioca pearls), dimsum, taho (sweet tofu), blue crabs from Long Beach, Pringle’s BBQ and Sour Creme & Onion.

DEVOUT

Roslyn took her faith as seriously as she did her work. No matter how much pain and discomfort she was in, she would make the arduous trek to attend mass. What would typically take anyone half an hour to do would require Roslyn and Carlos two hours to realize. She ventured long distances for healing masses, even if it meant waking up at dawn and waiting patiently in line up to for two hours to receive blessing. Being confined to the bed in the recent weeks did not stop her from giving praise and glory to God. She was a regular viewer at EWTN’s 9am mass and received the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist from her mother with special dispensation.

Roslyn drew strength from the rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet, a powerful prayer given by Our Lord to Polish nun Saint Maria Faustina. These two prayers she recited with fervor everyday without fail. The night before her last, surrounded by family and with all of her remaining strength, she joined in and mouthed the words to the Hail Mary. By this time Roslyn was hardly audible and visibly pained and struggling. All were in awe as witnesses to the display of zeal by this holy woman of God.

On the morning of August 8, after a night of excruciating pain and suffering and immediately after the Divine Mercy Chaplet prayer by the family in her midst, Roslyn drew her last breath and surrendered her Spirit to the Lord.

Roslyn will have a viewing on Friday, August 14, 2015 at 9:00 AM followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:30 AM, both at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Loma Linda, California with burial to follow.