Rosa L Alfred

Rosa was born June 29, 1919 in Pensacola, Florida to Samuel Anderson and Rosa Gahn Leonard. Raised in the depression, she learned the hard lessons of living life with less. She studied at Ursuline College in New Orleans, LA. In November 27, 1941, she married Joseph Walton (Walt) Alfred, 11 days before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. While Walt served in the Pacific Theatre of World War II, Rosa went to work at a bank and started raising the first of her five children.

Returning to Pensacola after the war, her family continued to grow. She moved from Pensacola to Jacksonville and then to Miami. Rosa was instrumental in starting four parish churches: Sacred Heart in Pensacola, Assumption and San Jose in Jacksonville and St. Richard’s in Miami. She was a lifelong member of the Legion of Mary committing to saying the Rosary every day. After raising her 5 children, she spent much of her time volunteering at local hospitals. Following her husband’s death in 2000 she moved to Tallahassee and remained there until her passing.

Coming from the Greatest Generation, Rosa bequeathed to her children a sense of belonging in the world, a sense of telling the world, “Do your worst – I can take it and still make a life for my children.” She lived life spreading the core values of love, hard work and cherishing family.

She is survived by her five children: Mary Rosa Alfred (and Ron) Emeigh of Westland, MI; William Walton (and Patty) Alfred of Tallahassee, FL; Joseph Anderson (and Siham) Alfred of Fredericksburg, VA; Dorothy Rita Alfred of Tallahassee, FL; Patricia Ann Alfred (and Russ) Backes of Tallahassee, FL, and a legacy of twelve grandchildren and nineteen great grandchildren.

Family will receive friends at a Viewing and Rosary to be held at Culley's MeadowWood- Timberlane Road Chapel on December 29, 2017, 6 - 8 pm. A Funeral Mass and Reception will be held at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Tallahassee, Florida, on December 30, 2017 starting at noon, with burial to follow at Culley's MeadowWood. Donations may be made to Big Bend Hospice and/or your favorite charity.