Rosa Manibusan Dydasco

A chapel service for Rosa will be held Thursday, June 23, 2022 from 3:30 PM to 7:00 PM at Hawaiian Memorial Park Funeral Services, 45-425 Kamehameha Highway, Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744. A burial will occur Friday, June 24, 2022 from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, 2177 Puowaina Dr, Honolulu, HI 96813.

Rosa Manibusan Dydasco

August 31, 1932 – May 28th, 2022

Rosa, Rose, Auntie Chai ("Chai - Familian "Gadi/Taluba/Kadi"), Gramma, Tutu, and GG as she was more affectionately known by her family and friends was born in Agana, Guam on Aug. 31, 1932, to Jose G. and Juana (Laguana) Manibusan. She was 89 years old.

Her brothers included Jesus L. Manibusan, Nicolas L. Manibusan, Antonio L. Manibusan, Jose L. Manibusan and Juan L. Manibusan.

Rosa was only 9 years old when the Japanese invaded and occupied Guam in 1941. During the two-year occupation, for her protection, she followed her brother’s instructions and hid in the jungle. She hid in caves, makeshift bunkers made of barrels buried underground, or deep in jungle trees. She would only be allowed to visit home at night or when the Japanese soldiers were sure not to be around. At 11 years old, she was forced to march to concentration camps where she and her family were finally rescued by the liberating American forces.

Perhaps it was from that experience, during those formidable years that she drew her courage, strength, determination, discipline, will power, and love for her family.

She was strong willed in many of her ways. So much so that, during the Dydasco Family Re-Union Event she was unanimously voted “Most Stubborn” and she was surely “Most Stubborn” till the end!

Rosa attend and graduated from George Washington High School in Guam.

Soon after graduating from High School, she married Vicente (Benke) Taitano Dydasco. They relocated from Guam to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii where Vicente was stationed with the 25th Infantry Division.

Together they had 5 children, Vicente Jr, Elvin, Jose, Emilia, and Lourdes.

Rosa was fortunate to have had two loves of her life.

Later in life after the passing of first husband Benke, she met Roger Rembold, with whom she spent the rest of her life!

Roger and Rosa were inseparable throughout the last 47 years!

They had no children between them, but together, they happily reared 5 children, 11 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild!

Rosa worked primarily as a grandma helping raise all her grandchildren along with many relatives, friends, and strangers whom she welcomed into her home and raised and loved as her own. Witness accounts tally the count at over 50 people that she welcomed and raised in her home.

She also worked at Hawaii Pacific University, Windward Campus for many years.

As a testament to the love that many people felt for her, two students from Japan who lived with her sent their children alone, over 20 years later, to visit Hawaii in full care of Auntie Chai! They trusted her and Roger with their children 100%!

Rosa enjoyed spending all her time with her children and her grandchildren and provided a model of motherly love.

Rosa was old school, an embracer of tough love, often brandishing and using the “quata” or better known as a “whip” on her children when necessary but it took on a token display role with her grands!

Gardening next to cruising around the island with Roger were some of her favorite past-times along with eating, especially her favorite fried fish! We would always send her our withering plants to revive or save!

She also had a love of Ranch life. Like a second family she shared a special connection with the people and animals at the Ranch and passed down country values to her children and grandchildren through all the time and memories spent at the Ranch.

She is survived by her husband Roger, sons Vince (Kellie), Elvin (Jolyn), Jose (Misty), daughters Millie (Fudge), Lourdes (Lalo), and 11 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild.