Professor Rosalinda E. Mariles

Professor Rosalinda E. Mariles, nee Espinoza, 72, born in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico on November 14, 1943, passed away Thursday, August 4, 2016 at her home in O’Fallon, Illinois, while surrounded by her loving family.

Rosalinda was a parishoner of St.Clare of Assisi Catholic Church in Shiloh, IL. She loved cooking, poetry and liked to read books.

Rosalinda received her M.S. in Spanish Literature and Language from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, IL.

Rosalinda Mariles was born in México to business oriented parents and came to study at Texas A&I in Kingsville, TX. Education has always been a priority in her life and her husband can attest to that fact. The two had met while she was a student at St. Augustine, a Catholic school, in Laredo, Texas, in 1959. After marrying Carlos Mariles, it was her husband’s military career with the US Air Force that brought the two of them to Scott AFB, IL.

Before coming to UM-St Louis, she worked simultaneously at the Governor French Academy in Belleville Illinois, a college preparatory school, and at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, IL. In 2000, she retired from the Academy and in 2002, she retired from SIUE.

Professor Mariles is a strong proponent of promoting awareness of all cultures. However, it is the Hispanic culture that occupied most of her spare time. While residing at Scott AFB, IL, she assisted others in the planning of Hispanic organizations. She set up cultural exhibits and provided mini lectures in different locations around the Base. In order to reach out to the surrounding communities, she created Americans Teaching Americans, a non-profit organization for tutoring services and cultural awareness. She was the founding First Lady of the Hermandad Hispana Club at Scott AFB, IL. in 1976.

To follow in her parents footsteps, she started Arete Publications, Inc. Her business endeavors did not go unnoticed. An entrepreneur group from the metro east elected her President of the University of the New World, a for profit corporation that took her to Dakar, Senegal in West Africa. Professor Mariles has presented at state and national Foreign Language conferences. She is the author of “La Fonética del Idioma Español”.

She has co-chaired the UM-St Louis’ Spanish club and organized cultural Hispanic events.

She has been the recipient of Excellence in Teaching Award from Emerson Electric, St Louis, Mo.; Excellent Educator Recognition from Eastern Illinois University; Those Who Excel Award from the Illinois State Board of Education; The Golden Apple Award from the St. Clair County, IL.

Surviving her are her husband of 49 years Carlos B. Mariles, of O’Fallon, Il., her sons Carlos Mariles, IV (4th), Jane (Perosa) Mariles of O’Fallon, IL., Marco A. Mariles, Kim (Snow) Mariles, of Swansea, IL.; Jason and Janice Perosa, of Belleville, IL., Justin Perosa of Shilloh, IL., and Joseph Perosa, her grandchildren, Carlos E. Mariles,V (5th), Jackson I. Mariles, and Mika A. Mariles. Also, Hailey Perosa and Collin Perosa.

We, as a family, would like to express our most profound thanks to BJC Hospice and Home Care Services from Overland MO., and the team from Alton, Illinois for their sterling service provided to our wife and mother, and especially to our Nurse, Linda, who was assigned to the care of the most precious member of our family. With her “can do” attitude, knowledge and experience, she provided peaceful and professional care that allowed her patient to experience almost no pain. Also, Father James Deiters from St. Clare of Assisih, Shiloh, who provided the final rites as her soul left her body in the same instance. Finally, our thanks go to the entire 17th floor staff, OB-GYN Oncology from BJC, who provided such outstanding care during the time that Rosalinda was there.

Memorial donations are appreciated to Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Memories and expressions of condolences may be offered at www.lakeviewfuneralhm.com

Friends may call from 4-8 p.m., Tuesday, August 9, 2016, at Lake View Funeral Home, Fairview Heights, Illinois. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, August 10, 2016, in the funeral home chapel

Inurnment to follow in Lake View Memorial Gardens, Fairview Heights, Illinois.