Aileen Mary Rocha, 87, passed away on Tuesday, March 25 at her home in Escalon from heart disease.
She was born Feb. 21, 1921 in Winton, Ca. and soon after moved to Gilroy, Ca. with her family. She was the youngest of nine children.
After graduating from Gilroy High, in 1940 she married the love of her life, Joaquin "Jack" Rocha and the two of them moved to Escalon where they acquired their first dairy business together. She had officially become a dairyman's wife for a living. Together, the couple raised two sons and a daughter and ran the farm, making for a very busy life.
Mrs. Rocha belonged to the Y.L.I. and the U.P.P.E.C. and was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church.
She had a strong motivation to always look like a million dollars despite all of her physical disabilities, she was the original 'Queen of Bling;' everyone will agree with that. She was an excellent cook and was known for her Portuguese beans. She was an encouraging friend, a fun grandmother, a kind and loving mother and a wonderful wife.
She enjoyed going shopping with her daughter Debby, reading novels and playing cards with her grandchildren, Jonell, Vince and Brandt. She also enjoyed going with grandson Ron to check out his latest dairy barn projects and stopping for Chinese food for lunch. She was most excited about one particular project, the dairy barn of her nephew, Frank Rocha. That was a huge moment for her that brought back many happy memories of the days with her husband on the dairy; still a dairyman's wife at heart after all those years.
Survivors include her two loving 'sidekicks,' daughter Debby Rocha Faria and son-in-law Tony Faria of Escalon; eight grandchildren, Ron Rocha, Cheri Cole, Jonell Rocha, Jacquelyn Rocha, Shawn Rocha, Ted Rocha, Jack Rocha and Vince Rocha; six great-grandchildren, Dustin Rocha, Brandt Rocha, Taylor Rocha, Christian Rocha, Brooks Rocha and Madison Rocha; and brother, Tony Leimas, all of California.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Jack, in 1987; son Ron Rocha in 1999 and son Tony Rocha in 2007.
Rosary-Mass was on Monday, March 31 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church.
Memorial donations may be made to Escalon Ambulance, P.O. Box 212, Escalon, CA 95320.
The Escalon (Calif.) Times
April 2, 2008
She was born Feb. 21, 1921 in Winton, Ca. and soon after moved to Gilroy, Ca. with her family. She was the youngest of nine children.
After graduating from Gilroy High, in 1940 she married the love of her life, Joaquin "Jack" Rocha and the two of them moved to Escalon where they acquired their first dairy business together. She had officially become a dairyman's wife for a living. Together, the couple raised two sons and a daughter and ran the farm, making for a very busy life.
Mrs. Rocha belonged to the Y.L.I. and the U.P.P.E.C. and was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church.
She had a strong motivation to always look like a million dollars despite all of her physical disabilities, she was the original 'Queen of Bling;' everyone will agree with that. She was an excellent cook and was known for her Portuguese beans. She was an encouraging friend, a fun grandmother, a kind and loving mother and a wonderful wife.
She enjoyed going shopping with her daughter Debby, reading novels and playing cards with her grandchildren, Jonell, Vince and Brandt. She also enjoyed going with grandson Ron to check out his latest dairy barn projects and stopping for Chinese food for lunch. She was most excited about one particular project, the dairy barn of her nephew, Frank Rocha. That was a huge moment for her that brought back many happy memories of the days with her husband on the dairy; still a dairyman's wife at heart after all those years.
Survivors include her two loving 'sidekicks,' daughter Debby Rocha Faria and son-in-law Tony Faria of Escalon; eight grandchildren, Ron Rocha, Cheri Cole, Jonell Rocha, Jacquelyn Rocha, Shawn Rocha, Ted Rocha, Jack Rocha and Vince Rocha; six great-grandchildren, Dustin Rocha, Brandt Rocha, Taylor Rocha, Christian Rocha, Brooks Rocha and Madison Rocha; and brother, Tony Leimas, all of California.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Jack, in 1987; son Ron Rocha in 1999 and son Tony Rocha in 2007.
Rosary-Mass was on Monday, March 31 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church.
Memorial donations may be made to Escalon Ambulance, P.O. Box 212, Escalon, CA 95320.
The Escalon (Calif.) Times
April 2, 2008
