Rosa Montes Saenz

Rosa Montes Saenz, 100, longtime Moses Lake resident, formerly of Quincy, passed away Sunday, June 14, 2009, at her home in Moses Lake.

Rosa was the oldest of 12 children born to Steven Montes and Ignacia Gamez. Rosa Montes was born in Victoria, Texas. Her mother died when she was only 16 years old, leaving her youngest brother a baby when she died. She helped her dad raise her brothers and sisters until he passed away with pneumonia when she was 23 years of age. She then continued to raise her brothers and sisters. She cut their hair and made their clothes. One of her earliest memories was of her father buying a car that had to be cranked up before starting, a Model T. Her fondest memory was of riding horseback with her sister.

She married Celso Cantu Saenz and had seven children. Rosa continued to take care of her husband after he developed polio. They migrated from Texas and then settled in Quincy, where she retired from Lamb Weston, a processing plant. She now has 28 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren, 10 great-great-grandchildren, and four great-great-great-grandchildren. She loved to crochet, sew and make quilts. Rosa was a foster parent and also raised a granddaughter. Rosa loved children and even though they struggled to make ends meet, Rosa would feed the neighborhood children. She worried that they would be hungry after school when their parents were a work. She loved to sing. She still remembered her favorite songs until her last days turning 100 years in February.

Rosa has been a rock and an inspiration to the family and all of her friends. She will be greatly missed and remembered.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 17, 2009, at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church with Father Brooks F. Beaulaurier as celebrant. Holy Rosary will be prayed at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, 2009, at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church. Viewing will take place at the church on Tuesday evening from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m.

Arrangements are in care of Kayser’s Chapel & Crematory, Moses Lake. You may sign the guest book or leave a note for the family at www.kayserschapel.com.