Rose Blanca Tellez

Our hearts are heavy as we announce the death of Rose Blanca Tellez. Our wonderful “Lady Rose” died peacefully after a short illness on May 10, 2019. She was 88 years old. Rose was born in Jerome, Arizona to Pedro and Patrocinia Tellez in 1930, the seventh of nine children.

At an early age, Rose and her family moved to San Diego, where she proudly lived the rest of her life. A member of the Greatest Generation, her strong character was forged in the challenges of the Great Depression and World War II. She graduated from San Diego High School, then worked many varied and interesting jobs until she went back to school and received her nursing degree. She did this while successfully raising four children on her own--her proudest accomplishment.

She enjoyed years of caring for the elderly at several local nursing homes before she finally landed her dream job at Balboa Naval Hospital in 1972. There, she found her niche in the Allergy Clinic, where she cared for our military and their families for 25 years before taking her well-deserved retirement. Still, in retirement, she did not rest. This incredibly energetic woman became a volunteer street outreach worker with the San Diego AIDS Project after losing a beloved nephew to the disease. She was named Volunteer of the Year with the organization in 1992--an award she dearly cherished.

We loved her endlessly and so we grieve her loss endlessly. But we are comforted by memories of her love for family and her crazy-funny sense of humor. Rose is survived by her daughter, Patricia Salazar, and sons Michael Salazar and John Carrillo; her son Victor Salazar predeceased her. She also leaves 10 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, sisters Eva Marfin, Sylvia Tellez, brother Robert Tellez, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

A Rosary will be recited on Friday, June 7, at 6 p.m. at Erickson-Anderson Mortuary, 8390 Allison Ave. La Mesa CA, and a Memorial Service the following day at the same location at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations on her behalf to Mama’s Kitchen, 3960 Home Ave., San Diego, CA 92105 or Rachel’s Women’s Center, 759 Eighth Ave., San Diego, CA 92101.