Vita Ann (Ragusa) Rose, age 73 passed away peacefully, surrounded by many of her loving family, on Saturday, May 26, 2018 after living with frontotemporal dementia. Vita’s greatest joy in life was her family. She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Sam Rose Jr., her daughter Karen Rose Racey, son-in-law Allan and grandchildren Nathan & Rachel; her son Sam Rose III, daughter-in-law Morgen and grandchildren Sam IV & Nicholas. Vita is also survived by her father, Jake Ragusa Sr. (98 yrs young); her sister Christine Montalbano, brother-in-law Paul; her brother Jake Ragusa Jr. and sister-in-law Elysia. She was preceded in death by her mother Rose Ragusa and her sister Rosemary Ragusa. She is also survived by a large family of nieces, nephews and cousins that she adored and loved spending time with.
Vita attended Incarnate Word Academy graduating as Class President and throughout her life she maintained friendships with many of her IWA classmates. She went on to attend the University of Houston where she met and married her college sweetheart, Sam. Vita’s foundation in her Catholic faith from her youth inspired her into a lifelong career serving the church community. She worked many years in the St. Matthew’s Catholic Church office as well as 25+ years as bookkeeper at St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church/School. She treasured the friendships, families and students that enriched her life while living her Catholic Faith. Vita was also a member of St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church and graciously volunteered her time and talents by supporting the annual St. Joseph Alter, counting offerings on Sunday and serving as Eucharist Minister.
Vita was a lover of life. She valued connecting with others by really listening and being in the moment with the person at her side. She loved traveling to cities all over the world from small-town bluebonnet festivals in Texas, to Vancouver, California, the Ragusa Ranch, Colorado, Mexico, France and especially to visit her Italian family in Bisacquino, Sicily. The name Vita means “Life” in Italian. She treasured her Texas-style Italian traditions such as making homemade sausage and Italian fig cookies.
Love. The truest expression of unconditional love is what Sam and Vita expressed to each to each other on a daily basis. It started with their wedding anniversary on the day before Valentine’s Day. They shared this idea of unconditional love with their children…a treasured legacy passed on.
And then there were the grandkids…and MawMaw was born. Her four grandchildren were the light of her life. They filled her with joy and she gave it right back to them. Pure love. Laughter, playing, eating lots of Mexican food (and ice cream), carousels, “come on cars” and a never ending supply of hugs and kisses.
And if you know Vita, you know… she loved to shop. A lot. Sometimes with a full and indexed bag of coupons. What started with weekly trips with her mother to Foley’s became a lifetime of shopping trips with her best shopping buddies. Shopping was about finding the deals but really spending quality time with the people she loved.
Throughout Vita’s life, she always made true friends and loving relationships. A lifelong list of true friends never ends. From UH Newman Club, IWA, Church Youth Groups, Marriage Encounter ….everyone loved Vita.
Vita’s family would like to take this opportunity to thank the amazingly wonderful people at Silverado Memory Care facility. More than just taking care of Vita for 4+ years, they loved her. They treated her like family and they appreciated the essence of everything that was Vita. As important as Vita’s Italian heritage was to her, this outpouring of love and support was exactly what she needed. Vita’s family will forever consider the staff at Silverado a part of their extended family.
A visitation and rosary service will be held on Friday, June 1 from 5:00 - 8:00pm at Earthman Funeral Home, 8303 Katy Freeway, Houston, Texas. The rosary service begins at 7:00pm. A funeral mass will be held at 1:00pm on Saturday, June 2 at St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church, 11720 Joan of Arc Drive, Houston, Texas with interment services to follow at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery.
In honor of Vita, the love she received at her Silverado home and the location of her passing, a Rose Garden will be constructed and dedicated in her honor at Silverado Memory Care Facility - Cypresswood. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to “Vita’s Rose Garden” at https://www.gofundme.com/vita-rose-garden . Please click on link below to make donation.
DONACIONES
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
v.1.9.5