Daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, best friend, neighbor, Rosa E. Tovar Bustillos 79, (we will not divulge her middle name, as she hated it) born December 28, 1944, gained her angel wings on March 7, 2024. Rosa was born and raised in El Paso and was a proud graduate of Ysleta High School. She married Francisco February 20, 1965 who she shared her adventurous life with, extending it with four tumultuous daughters. Following her marriage, Rosa was a catechism teacher at St. Paul Catholic Church in the late 70’s and early 80’s and participated in the Girl Scouts as an assistant & was homeroom mother at Ascarate Elementary school. She & her friend Marylou were active aerobics enthusiasts and she got into frequent shenanigans with her best friends Martha & Lupe.
Notoriously known for her boisterous laugh, that we felt, as if it was heard around the world. Her resounding laughter was invigorating joy that and it would spread wherever she was. She had a way of touching people and making them feel significant. She never failed to give you her time and undivided attention as her servant spirit would prioritize the well-being of others to help those around her.
She saved tons of mementos, but true to her loving nature she kept them with a purpose, a keepsake, so that they would not go forgotten. She loved birds, cats, dogs and once even a tarantula. Carefully rehoming crickets and spiders outdoors when they trespassed inside.
Our mother had a love and passion for nature, reading, art, music she was more intelligent than she ever gave herself credit for. She raised four girls with different interests, but managed to teach us to be independent, fearless and content. She was a force of nature with her ability to praise the smallest of moments & celebrate your biggest accomplishments.
Banana Tree Ln will never be the same without the echo of Rosa yelling at the kids to behave, get down, stop that, desgracidos! Along with a few other colorful embellishments. She was the enforcer of the porch light, our neighborhood watch to get the kids home making sure everyone was safe and sound.
It is extremely difficult to sum up a person whose presence in our lives was bigger than the sun. She was always positive regardless of the situation. Always ready to lend a hand & especially ready to lead the charge and advocate for your cause if need be. She loved unconditionally. She was, life, in any room that she occupied. And her powerfully sweet spirit will be missed.
In closing, we would like to extend our gratitude to Kayla Castaneda NP from Spero Women’s Oncology Center, Sandra RN (her favorite nurse at the infusion center, and everyone knew it) from Las Palmas infusion, and Dr. Gupta who was her radiologist oncologist who continued to treat her with dignity and care, Cristy, who stayed up with her & listened to all her stories, Tia Chelia who would keep watch & assist with her day to day needs, and Tencha, you have been our quiet pillar of strength.
Rosa is preceded in death by her parents Beatriz & Jesus Tovar, brother, David, daughters Sonia Priscilla Claudia Yvette, and son-in-law Erik Lambourn. She is survived by her husband Francisco, daughters Terry Lambourn, Bernadette and Becky (Jason), grandchildren, Jeremy and Abby Lambourn and Elijah Hazelton.
We invite Family and friends to wear Rosa’s favorite color, blue, to her rosary and funeral mass.
As Rosa would say any time you were leaving her presence, “God Bless You, I Love You and Que Dios los bendiga.”
Visitation will be from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM with a Rosary at 6:00 PM, Thursday, March 14, 2024 at Sunset Funeral Homes - East, 750 N. Carolina. Funeral Mass will be held at 9:30 AM, Friday, March 15, 2024 at Little Flower Catholic Church, 171 Polo Inn Rd. Interment will follow at 11:00 AM at Fort Bliss National Cemetery.