Dominga Rosa

Dominga Gerena Rosa, 96, of Oberlin, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 12, 2015 at her residence while under the care of Hospice of the Western Reserve following a lengthy illness.
Born July 20, 1918 in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, she was the first Puerto Rico family to arrive in Lorain in August of 1947. In 1980, she moved back to Puerto Rico, and then lived in St. Petersburg, Florida, before returning to Lorain in 2000. She has been a resident of Oberlin for the last 4 years.
A devoted catholic, Dominga was a founding member of Sacred Heart Chapel, Lorain, where she was also a founding member of the Ladies Association. She was also a member of the Cursillio since 1964 and was active in many other activities at the church. While she lived in Florida, she was very active with Transfiguration Catholic Church, where she was involved in traveling to many of the homes with the figure of the Blessed Virgin Mary to recite the Holy Rosary.
Dominga had a passion for helping people. She took people in her home that were in need when they first arrived to Lorain from Puerto Rico. She also helped raise grandchildren and a foster child. She loved sewing and was a professional seamstress in Puerto Rico. She also enjoyed embroidery, knitting, tailoring, drawing, painting, carpentry, electrical work, playing the harmonica, singing and dancing. She was especially devoted to the Virgin Mary.
Determined to learn English, she attended night school where she received a diploma. She also went to Lorain Institute operated by the Lorain Board of Education, having received certification for tailoring. She also made her own dress designs and dress patterns for her professional clients. Her passion was her family get-togethers, traveling, and camping to many places around the United States with her daughter and son-in-law.
Dominga has a historical ancestral line. Her aunt Antonia Gerena made the 2015 Guinness World Record by being the #7 as the oldest woman at 114 years old. She had several aunts and uncles that lived to well over their 100's.
Surviving are her sons, Hector Rosa of Oberlin and Alcide (Dolly) Rosa of Lorain; a daughter, Iris N. (Hector) Orama of Oberlin; a bother, Juan Gerena of Fajardo, Puerto Rico; sisters, Justina Soto of Bronx, New York, Ester Gerena of Tampa, Florida, and Luisa Iris Gerena of Hormigueros, Puerto Rico; many grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Emenelio Rosa in 2000; a daughter, Miriam Alicea in 1987; parents, Bienvenido and Dominga (nee Del Valle) Gerena; and brothers, Simon Gerena, Rosario Gerena, Flor Gerena; sisters, Martha Arroyo and Luquita Quiles.
The family will receive friends on Sunday from 2:00 - 6:00 pm in the Dovin Funeral Home, 2701 Elyria Avenue, Lorain. Funeral services will be Monday at 8:45 am in the funeral home followed by mass at 9:30 am at Sacred Heart Chapel, 4301 Pearl Avenue, Lorain. Rev. William Thaden, pastor will officiate. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Lorain.
To send online condolences go to www.dovinfuneralhome.com