Abelardo Oscar Rosas

Abelardo Oscar Rosas, 76, passed away peacefully at home on December 5, 2012, surrounded by his loved ones. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Alicia (nee Anchondo), and his four children Abelardo (Jeff Kruger), Ana Carey (Tim), Laura, and Luis Carlos (Megan). He was the beloved “Atta” aka Abuelito to Justin Joaquin, Claudia Alicia and Anthony Diego Carey; Marco Luis Rosas; Lucas Marcelo, Emilio Giancarlo and Mary Marguerite Rosas. He is also survived by the many wonderful members of the Anchondo family, including Margarita Licon (Guillermo), Dolores and Roberto (Susan) and many nieces and nephews. He leaves behind a loving cousin, Blanca B. Gervais, of Pennsylvania, as well as a brother, Gaston, of California, and a sister, Armida, of El Paso.

Abelardo was born on March 2, 1936 to Joaquin and Blanca Rosas and spent most of his life in the El Paso/Juarez area. He attended Dudley School, Mesita School, and graduated from El Paso High School. He then briefly attended Loyola College in Montreal, Canada but returned to El Paso. It was at Texas Western College where he met Alicia in an economics class. They married in 1962 and went on to enjoy 50 years of much love, laughter and a deep and abiding partnership. They were perfectly suited to one another and joyfully devoted to raising their four children.

Pop derived much of his happiness from enjoying time with family – he never missed a single important occasion whether it was Sundays at his in-laws, one of many high school and college graduations, or being out on a field on a Saturday morning watching his grandkids playing in a game or a match. He always loved going out on long runs breathing in the clear desert air, traveling with Alicia (he especially enjoyed their trips to San Antonio, the Bay Area, the colonial cities of Mexico, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Greece), attending Miners games, working out at Las Palmas and especially spending time at Los Corralitos, his father-in-law’s Chihuahua cattle ranch, where he often enjoyed a few rounds of good Mexican beer, the annual brandings and some spirited horseback riding with friends.

His professional life included many years with Bayer Corporation and then, closer to home, West Texas Medical Specialties, where he was a loyal friend and mentor to his many colleagues. He always enjoyed his interactions with El Paso physicians and their staffs.

The family wishes to thank all the many physicians here in El Paso, especially Dr. Branch Craige, Dr. Suresh Antony, Dr. Juan Herrada and Dr. Craig Cameron; and Dr. Patrick Lin and his team at MD Anderson in Houston, who provided invaluable assistance every step of the way. We are grateful to Hospice El Paso and Elite Home Care Services for their care of our father in his time of need. A heartfelt hug goes to Carmen Lujan for all her tender care of our family, and for providing everything we need before we’ve even thought of it.

Pallbearers will be Abelardo Rosas, Luis Carlos Rosas, Roberto Anchondo, Guillermo Licon, Timothy Carey and Daniel Heredia. Honorary pallbearers are Justin Joaquin Carey, Ventura Badia and Ernesto Goeldner.

We invite friends and family to the Visitation on Sunday, December 9 at Martin Funeral Home West, from 5-7 pm with the Rosary starting at 7 pm. The Funeral Mass will be said at St. Patrick Cathedral at 10 am on Monday, December 10 and will be laid to rest at Memory Gardens of the Valley in Santa Teresa, NM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of Abelardo to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston or St. Patrick Cathedral of El Paso. Services entrusted to Martin Funeral Home West, 128 N. Resler Dr., El Paso, Texas 79912. www.MartinFuneralHomeWest.com