Rose Marie Yguado

On Wednesday, July 8, 2020, the earth lost the strongest woman it will ever know. Rose Marie Yguado passed away peacefully after a three-year battle with kidney cancer. Rose loved her family deeply and fought hard to be able to spend many more years with them.  She fought cancer with a tremendous amount of courage and conviction; when one treatment failed, she moved on to the next without showing any fear. There was not a doctor out there that could convince Rose that there wasn’t a cure for the type of cancer she had. She kept a positive outlook and her desire to live proved fruitful as she lived beyond what the doctors had estimated.

Rose Marie Yguado was born to Erminia Villasenor Yguado and Francisco Barela Yguado, on September 18, 1951 in Bisbee, Arizona. Daughter to a homemaker and coal miner, and loving sister to seven brothers and sisters: Barbara Jean Butcher, Frank Solano, Richardo Yguado, Yolanda Kelley, Robert Yguado, Consuelo Yguado and Johnny Yguado. Rose attended Bisbee Grade School and High School. Rose left Bisbee at a young age to attend Job Corp in Moses Lake, WA. After completing Job Corp in the early 70’s, Rose jumped on a greyhound bus and moved to Seattle where she later started a family of her own. Rose leaves behind three children: Felipe, Lisa, and Madaline. As well as six grandchildren: Terence 26, Tyesha 22, Andujar 20, Anaya 16, Imani 9, and Lorelei Rose 8 months.

Rose was an extremely hard worker and she provided for and raised her children as a strong single mother. She worked various jobs in the Seattle area including jobs that required graveyard and overtime. Rose worked for several years doing foundry work. Then later worked as an auditor for a photography company, Qualex. She worked her way up from the mailroom to Executive Assistant at Washington Mutual, before the economic collapse of 2008. Her last job was working at the local Safeway as a personal shopper. One thing was for sure, that Rose made friends at every job she worked.

Rose’s home was always a welcomed place to gather, eat, drink, laugh, and love. Holidays, birthdays, and family gatherings were celebrated with a table full of Rose’s cooking. She loved watching others eat her food, all while she sat and sipped on a glass of Black Velvet. Some of her most famous meals were homemade tortillas, gumbo, tamales, mustard greens, tacos, enchiladas, and albondigas.  Rose always made sure you left her home with leftovers...as long as you remembered to bring your own Tupperware.

Friends and family would describe Rose as strong, no-nonsense, careful, and funny. She was a realist with strong opinions; opinions that she was quick to let you know about. She wouldn't take crap from anyone and could spot a lie from a mile away- One of her favorite things to tell people was “You lie,  like a bug in a rug”. An independent woman through and through, letting people know "if you want something done right, you do it yourself." There was not a moment in the day that Rose was not worrying about her family, simply because she loved them all so much. You knew Rose cared for you, when she insisted that you call or text when you got home safely. She would always encourage family to be their best selves. Rose’s face spoke a thousand words –you knew when you were in trouble, when she was calling your bluff, or when she was in total agreement with what you were saying. Her beautiful eyes had the ability to pierce your soul one minute, and the next have her heart smile through them. Rose's personality is hard to forget, and is something that her family and friends will cherish forever.

Rose has joined her sister Consuelo in heaven where we are all sure that the two of them are once again inseparable—Like Thelma and Louise.

"Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure, you are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure."