Our beloved Mother, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother, Beatrice E. Rojas, passed away peacefully after living 98 wonderful years on November 8th, 2021, in El Paso, Texas. She was born on September 28, 1923, in Dallas, Texas, the second child of Francisco and Lucille Escobar. Her father Francisco was born in Chihuahua, Mexico, her mother Lucille was born in Taylor, Texas. Her father was a tailor and owned numerous retail businesses. Her mother, in addition to being a housewife, attended to the family businesses. Growing up in the family businesses, Beatrice learned the definition of hard work at a young age. She attended Cumberland Hill School, today the only remaining 19th Century School building in Dallas, and the heritage El Paso High School in El Paso, Texas. She also attended Colegio Palmore Business Academy in El Paso, Texas, studying business accounting that later led her to a career in banking.
In 1942 in Dallas, she met and married Vincent R. Rojas. Vincent was born in San Antonio, Texas, and had grown up in Dallas. After WWII, and upon completing Vincent’s education in apparel manufacturing in New York City, together they moved to California, had five children, living first in Los Angeles then sharing a wonderful life in San Gabriel, California, until Vincent’s passing in 1992. Her husband’s apparel career led them to live briefly in Taipei, Taiwan, where he consulted apparel manufacturers. Later their love of travel and meeting new people took them to numerous cities throughout Europe.
Bea, as she was known by her friends, was a born leader, working as a branch manager for Universal Savings and Loan in the San Gabriel Valley. While devoted to her career, her family always came first. She had a deep love for her Catholic faith, made pilgrimages to Lourdes, Fatima and Our Lady of Guadalupe. She was a devoted volunteer and parishioner of the San Gabriel Mission for over 50 years, where she served and led many of the church ministries and developed lifelong friends in that community.
Bea was the matriarch of the Rojas Family and faced life’s trials with strength, optimism and dignity. A beautiful woman, she exuded elegance and style, she was kind and generous and had a great sense of humor. She loved food and good conversation, had a selfless heart and would open her home to anyone who was lucky to have known her. She was a fantastic cook and could effortlessly create home cooked meals for her family or a large gathering; her recipes will be handed down to her children and enjoyed by future generations. She was a gifted dressmaker and could create a wedding dress or alter a man’s suit. She loved playing cards and was a master at Chinaso, a card game she taught to everyone everywhere. She loved watching the news, followed current events and read every magazine and newspaper put in front of her. She loved all types of music, especially Spanish Boleros, and as a follower of the Spanish Novellas on television, always made a point of not missing an episode.
Bea was predeceased by her husband Vincent after 50 years of a loving marriage, her brothers Jerry and Jose Escobar and sister Gladys Caballero. She is survived by a sister, Mary Francis Santos of Mesquite, TX; her five children, Irma (Lawrence) Madrid of El Paso, TX, Vincent (Kathleen) of Pasadena, CA, Leticia Debbie (Marvin) Hanna of Mesquite, TX, Mario (Judith) Rojas of Glendora, CA, Denise (Robert) Sanchez of Mesquite, TX; eight grandchildren, Marc (Edna) Madrid of El Paso, TX, Philip (Miriam) Madrid of Santa Teresa, NM, Jennifer (James) Anfuso of Portland, OR, Anthony (Angela) Eilken of Eastvale, CA, Alec (Marisa) Rojas of Los Angeles, CA, Jordan (Renee) Rojas of Burbank, CA, Eric F. Rojas of Takoma Park, MD, Austin Rojas of Scotts Valley, CA,;and four great-grandchildren ,Ryan and Ally Madrid, Falon Anfuso and Emery Rojas.
A special thanks and debt of gratitude to her caretakers, whose compassionate care and kindness enabled Bea to live a full and independent life. A Memorial Service with a Mass will be at 11:00AM on Saturday, December 11th, 2021. Interment will follow immediately. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her name to the San Gabriel Mission Fire Restoration Fund https://parish.sangabrielmissionchurch.org/
