Mario Rocha

Mario Rocha, son of the late Jose Fernandes da Rocha and Maria de Lourdes Rocha was born February 19, 1936. He was raised in Santa Barbara, Terceira Azores, Portugal, where he attended school, worked his family’s land, served in the army as a medic, and became a barber where he learned his true skills of friendship and conversation. One of four children, he is survived by his brothers, Jose Fernandes (Zilda) Rocha, Jose Valdmiro (Laurinda) Rocha and sister Maria Natercia (Emanuel, deceased) Nunes.

He was united in holy matrimony to Natalina Lourdes Ferreira Alves on December 12, 1965 and immigrated to the United States in 1967. Working by day and attending classes at night, he was proud to become a US citizen in 1972. A resident of Santa Clara, California for 47 years, a devout and active member of the Portuguese-Catholic community, Mario and Natalina raised two children, Gina (Miles) Iseri, Joey (Julie) Rocha and four beloved granddaughters, Lauren, Grace, Hailey and Aubrey. He retired from Jefferson Smurfit after 32 years of service and remained active with church, cultural organizations, gardening, managing his businesses and enjoying his friends and family. He will always be remembered for his strong commitment to work, his joy for life, his gift of conversation and especially his love for his family.

Mario Rocha entered into eternal rest on January 15, 2021 in Santa Clara, California.

Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice or to the American Cancer Society

http://main.acsevents.org/goto/Mario_Rocha