Obituary of Rosa Elena Arriagada

On Sunday, September 17, 2023 Mrs. Rosa Arriagada passed away at the Maidstone Health Centre at the age of 74 years.

A Graveside Service will be held on Sunday, October 1, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at the Lloydminster City Cemetery.

ROSA  ELENA ARRIAGADA GONZALEZ

Rosa was born in Chile, South America to Lidio and Rosa Gonzalez on January 27, 1949.  Rosa met her late husband Sergio Arriagada when they were both 15 years old. Sergio’s family would make trips to buy produce from Rosa’s family.  They would date long distance until they married at 18 years of age.

Due to civil unrest in their home country of Chile, they made the difficult decision  to claim asylum to Canada to give their family a safe and better life.  The family arrived in Canada on March 19, 1976 with 2 large suitcases and 4 children under the age of 6.  Several years later they would have their 5^th child in Canada.

Rosa, Sergio and family would be the first Chilean family to arrive in Lloydminster in 1976, and lived at the Lloydminster Motel welcomed by Spanish speaking owners Amador and Teresa Lopez. Through the years many wonderful Chilean families followed and would become family.   They thought of their family daily and with sadness due to the sacrifice they had made to seek refuge in Canada.  The heartache would be something that was evident when Christmas’s would come as well as other family holidays.  As more latin families would arrive in Lloydminster, the void of not being able to be with their families was filled.  They would become a close knit group celebrating birthdays, new births, Christmas, New Years, camping and fishing trips together.

Rosa and Sergio worked very hard to make a good living for their family, but would always find time to take all the kids on camping/fishing trips when time would allow.  Their work ethic influenced their children as they grew, as they have all become successful adults.

Rosa and Sergio helped raise all their grandchildren and many memories were made with them.  Abuelita & Papa’s house was their grandchildren’s safe haven.

Life always has hardships as one ages and it was no different for this family.  Sergio would be diagnosed with diabetes and eventually have complications due to the disease.  Rosa was his caregiver until she would develop parkinsonism in her 60’s and this would eventually debilitate her. Her symptoms got worse after she lost the love of her life leaving her heart broken. Only a year and a half later, her only son would tragically be taken from her.   Life was never the same for Rosa after these very tragic events.  She fought hard right until the very end.  She held on in fear of leaving her girls and family behind.  

Rosa will be forever missed and remembered by her children Sandra & Wilf Hintz and their children Keifer & Mirielle and Brady, Jacqueline and Murray Delorme and their children, Victoria, Samantha (Michael), Madison & Perry, Marie, Amber, Dale and Murray Jr. & Janay, Johanna & Partner Rod Parker and children Travis, Kassandra (Jeremy), Selena and Justice,   Vanessa & Kyle Boothman and their children Kyson and Dario.  The late Mauricio’s children Regan, Elena, Robert, Ashanti  and Tavienne.  All her family in Chile, South America, especially her brothers Juan, Abel and Jorge, her special niece Any whom she thought of as her daughter, numerous nieces, nephews and great grandchildren.

Rosa was predeceased by the love of her life, Sergio Luis, her only son Mauricio, her parents Lidio and Rosa, Sisters Maria and Irma, brothers Osvando, Fernando and Rafael.   Her father in law Jorge & wife Patricia, sister in law Kenita, mother in law Teresa, sister in law Cecilia.  Grandson Dallan.

Rest in peace mama, we love you and will cherish the memories you gave us.  You are finally reunited with the love of your life and your only son.

Love your children, their spouses, grand children, great grandchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews and all of her husband’s family as well as dear friends.

Sandra, Jacqueline, Johanna & Vanessa