Rosalinda V. Villa was born to Reynaldo Villarreal and Eriberta Martinez in Sweetwater, TX. She was the youngest and last surviving sibling of four children (Lydia, Leonor, Felipe). She came from a poor family and spent most of her youth picking cotton and fleeing rattlesnakes. She remarkably completed the fourth grade.
In 1950, she met the love of her life Roberto Villa, 7 years her senior. They were married on September 5, 1950, in Texas. Soon afterwards Roberto Villa Jr. came into the world, followed by Augustine (Petie). The family moved to California in 1956 settling in Alameda. California seemed to be different. Mom told stories about how she and her neighbor Wilma would communicate by a phone made of tin cans which connected to the next apartment. Shortly after moving to Alameda their two girls were born, Rachael and then Tina. In 1959, the family moved to Fremont, CA where Rosalinda lived the remainder of her life. She was a housewife who loved to crochet and can tomatoes, apricots or peaches. Her other hobby was dancing. She and Roberto would go to the Newark Pavilion to dance the night away.
In 2004, dad suffered a major stroke and remained two years at a convalescent home in Fremont. In 2005, mom and dad renewed their 55-year wedding vows. Mom was glowing. There couldn’t have been a happier bride in the world. A year later dad passed away of Parkinson’s disease. Thankfully, Petie was living with mom, so she was not alone.
In 2015, tragedy struck when mom’s only brother passed away in October and then her first-born grandson Jesus Munoz Jr. passed away on December 11. Mom started deteriorating with signs of dementia and depression. Only five months later, she lost Petie on May 31, 2016.
On February 7, 2024, mom was hospitalized with pneumonia which was complicated by her C.O.P.D. She could no longer live alone, and Rachael and Tina were honored to lovingly care for her. After a difficult battle with C.O.P.D., God called mom to himself on Wednesday, October 23, 2024. She passed away in her sleep as she had wished for these last few years.
Rosalinda is survived by her son Roberto Villa Jr and Donna Villa (daughter-in-law), Rachael V. Munoz and Jesus Munoz (son-in-law) and Tina V. Iniguez and Louie Iniguez (son-in-law) and grandchildren Tina Leal and husband Rue, Nico Munoz, Adam Iniguez and wife Jamie, Robert V. Villa III and wife Erica, Bianca King and husband D.J., and Jessica Villa. She also leaves behind great-grandchildren- Brandon Kelly, Jack Munoz, Dominic Munoz, Max Leal, Gavin Leal and Rio Leal.
A visitation and Rosary will be held on Thursday, October 31 at Sorensen Chapel, 1140 B Street Hayward at 2:30 p.m. A second visitation will be held at 10a.m. on Friday, November 1 at Corpus Christi Church, 37968 3rd Street in Fremont with a Mass at 11a.m.
A burial will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 26320 Mission Blvd in Hayward.
All are invited to a reception at Rosalinda’s house at 2p.m. at 43353 Cedarwood Drive, Fremont.
