Emma Berena Sanchez

Emma Berena Sanchez Rossel In the early morning of Sunday, March 17, 2019, surrounded by loved ones, our beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother peacefully passed away. Emma lived to celebrate her 100th birthday on September 1, 2018. Born in Tarija, Bolivia, the youngest of 8 children, her mother died when she was one and her father when she was three year old. Doňa Emita went to school in Tarija and Sucre. It was in her hometown of Tarija she met and married Adalberto Violand Alcazar . Together, they had 6 beautiful daughters, Maria Julia, Emma, Susanna, Maria Eugenia, Annelise and Patricia. Doňa Emita raised her daughters in Cochabamba and La Paz, Bolivia, supporting her family her home. She moved to the United States in 2003 to join her daughters and their families. Doňa Emita, known as “Mami” to her daughters, “Abuelita” to her 13 grandchildren and “Bis-abuela” to her 20 great-grandchildren, loved to sing, dance and spend time with her family. She cared for many of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren well into her 90’s. In 2008, Doňa Emita , naturalized and became a US citizen and proudly voted in all elections. Doňa Emita recorded an album of her favorite songs from her beloved homeland as a lasting gift to her family. A visitation will be held on Thursday, March 21st from 6-8 pm and a funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, March 22nd at 10 am at the National Funeral Home at 7482 Lee Hwy, Falls Church, VA. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to Salomon Klein Orphanage at http://www.salomonkleinkidsfund.org/ or for a memorial scholarship to The Dream Project at https://www.dreamproject-va.org/.