Ann Santa Rosa

She was born in Boston on April 1, 1938, the daughter of Peter and Josepine Rosa, and the sister of Loretta Rosa. From her close-knit family, she inherited her great gifts of love, kindness, generosity, as well as artistry and an exceptional ability as an Italian cook.

She moved with her family to Los Angeles when she was ten years old. She attended Immaculate Heart College, a community that she always said transformed her view of the world. She received her B.A. in Art, studying with the pop artist, Sister Corita Kent, and becoming an accomplished seriographer. She later received a M.A. in Psychology. She married her husband Fares Sawaya on September 3, 1961, and they had two children, Marie and Francesca.

In 1975, she became a teacher at Lampson Elementary School in Orange, CA., where she taught first through third grade for 25 years. She loved her students and was beloved by them. She was committed in her teaching to academics as well as to the arts, creative expression, and play.

Ann will be remembered by everyone who knew her, or even met her for a few moments, for her joyousness, love of life, artistry, kindness, generosity, great sense of humor, and exceptional wisdom about life, human beings, and the world.

She will be deeply, deeply missed by her family: husband Fares, daughters Marie and Francesca Sawaya, granddaughter Naima Sawaya, son-in-law, Josh Piker, and her niece Neva Moloney (Pete); her in-laws (Therese, Peter, Sherri, Fernanda), and nieces and nephews from the extended Sawaya family; as well as many lifelong and cherished friends.

Ann’s family wishes to extend heartfelt thanks to the extraordinary caregivers and nurses at Namaste in Williamsburg.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to UNICEF (https://www.unicef.org/) or Doctors Without Borders (https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/).