Rosa Morehead's Obituary
Rosa Morehead, beloved daughter, sister, wife,mother , grandmother and great grandmother passed away on October 25th, 2024. She was born in Rosanno, Calabria in Southern Italy on November 21, 1932, the fourth child of Vittorio and Lola Mingrone.Her tenacious and captivating personality was evident very early in her life, as a young child. During World War2 ten year old Rosa was the the one that would stand in line to receive food supplies for her family. She became a favorite among her fellow neighbors waiting in the long lines and they would allow her to pass to the front of the front of the line to get the supplies.Rosa met her husband, Duane, while he was stationed in Naples Italy, as a SeaBee(Navy). They married and started their family. Their daughter, Patrizia, sons Gianni, Carlo, Gary, Steve and other daughter, MaryLou were born in Italy. Rosa's role as a mother was one she prided herself in, as she was close to her mother, who also lived with the family. In 1962, Duane received to return to the United States. He, Rosa and family packed up and left their Italian lives.Rosa's determined personality is what drove her to learn to speak a new language and navigate a new country and life when she came to the United States. She, nor the children, knew how to speak, read, or write in English. By watching television, listening to the radio, interacting with family members and with her children going to school and teaching her what they learned Rosa learned to speakin English and later read e write. While Duane was deployed in Vietnam, Rossa built a safe home for their children in a foreign land with family members she just met. She was a stay at home mom and homemaker and recived her license to be a Daycare provider. In addition to raising and caring for her own children, she was granted the responsibility of caring for others' children. They had two additional children, Mark and Paul.Rosa held a position as a cashier at Mini Mart, a store on the Hueneme Naval Base befor beginning her career as a Campus Assistant at McAuliffe Elementary Schoolin the Oxnard School District. She worked at Mc Auliffe for over 24 years before retiring in 2014. She earned a reputation as a very strict, no nonsense campus supervisor that enforces the school rules. Always professional, she dressed smartly yet elegantly, with her hair and make up done. Students still remember her, even as adults, commenting on her outfits and jewelry and being "put on a number" which was like a time out, when she caught them breaking a school rule.As the mother of 8 children and the strong personality of a leader, she established herself as the matriarch of the family. She was 'promoted' to Nona (Grandmother) many times over. Sunday dinners and holiday like Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years included family and friends that became family. She enjoyed opening her home to others to show off her very impressive Christmas Village that she set up annually."Mom, Nonna, Rosa you will never be forgotten by your children, children-in-law, grandchildren great-grandchildren and all the friends, coworkers and other acquaintances who knew you. We will always carry your memory in our hearts."Rosa was the quintessential Nonna, Italian Grandmother, always cooking, offering yet demanding you sit down to eat and watching with pride as her food was enjoyed. She would always ask "come'?" or "how it is?" in Italian, knowing that it was delicious. She loved animals as well, always having a dog or cat (or 2) or bird in the house, regardless of where it came from or how it came to live with her.Rosa is preceded in death by her husband Duane, son Mark, daughter Vicki Jo. She is survived by her daughter Patrizia and son in law, James; son,Gianfranco; son Carlo and Family;son Gary; son Steve; daughter MaryLou; son Paul and daughter in law, Shelly; her Grandchildren: Valerie, VickiJo, Candice,, Adriana,Monique, Joshua,Lawna, Michel, Nicole, Tiffany, Mark, Chad, Joseph, Natalie, Lola Jeremy, Mychel, Zackzry, Kailee, Alyssa and Tristan and 30 greatgrandchildren.Services for Rosa will be: Tuesday, November 12th 2024 at 10am at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, 5400 Valentine Road , Ventura, 93003
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