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Rosa Cordes Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Rosa Cordes
Joe Cordes
August 18, 2010
There will be a special Memorial Mass in honor of Rosita Cordes followed immediately with a dinner in the upstairs hall. People will have an opportunity to view a special slide-show and to tell fun memories and stories during the dinner.
Here are the details:
WHERE: St. Thomas More student parish
(421 Monroe Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49006 - just off Stadium Dr. East from 131)
WHEN: 5:15 PM Friday -- August 20th
This Memorial is especially for all who served Rosita in Kalamazoo (and for anyone who was unable to attend the funeral in East Lansing), so that they can have a chance to celebrate her and to be thanked for their special contributions to her life in Kalamazoo these past 5 and 1/2 years.
With gratitude and blessings,
Joe
Joseph Cordes
email: [email protected]
** please email your RSVP or your regrets, so we can plan the dinner.
kathie goodnoe
August 16, 2010
Dear Cordes family
Rosita's service was beautiful. Listening to you all speaking about her only confirmed what i already knew she touched everyones heart who had the pleasure of meeting her while she was here on earth. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
kathie bell goodnoe
Kendra G.
August 7, 2010
Working with Rosita changed my view on life! She has taught me how to have more patience and to laugh more. I will miss Ro's great sense of humor and especially hanging out at the mall, drinking coffee and checking out the guys.=)) I feel truly blessed to have known her and her family. <3
Joe Cordes
August 1, 2010
What a beautiful funeral we had on Wednesday and it was so nice to see so many friends from all phases of our life journey with Rosita. We are happy she is free, but saddened by the hole that is left, after caring/loving for her for so long.
I am happy that my words at the funeral seemed to touch many and reflect their memories of Rosita. This was my goal. To celebrate her and how powerfully she impacted all of us, and how she was a tool in the hand of God to touch us right back.
Having written the eulogy at 130 am on Wednesday, after dealing with all the other choices we made as a family (readings, songs, photos, etc), I was bound to unintentionally leave something or someone out.
So I want to acknowledge a HUGE contribution and absolutely essential step we made in the year after my father's death in 2003 -- it involved 3 people --- FIRST, Jay made the executive decision to put Rosita in an apartment and see how it went (we had no idea, and needed to learn this) ....SECOND, Dee Personius, who worked for my father, agreed to be the primary caregiver for Rosita (with her daughter Michelle's help) for a full year (and one month) --- once again, we could not have done it without you!!! and ....THIRD, Carmen took what we learned and transformed it into a 5 page document that became Rosita's Care Plan for the 5.5 years in Kalamazoo, and was used to orient each new staffer who came to serve Rosita.
All three of you deserve praise and great thanks for setting up this foundation for what would transpire from that point on.
Beyond that, Tim and Janet, not only did you assist daily, but special mention should be made of how much your hearing expertise and general understanding of "how this all works" guided and steered countless decisions in Kalamazoo.
THANKYOU is not even close to enough. But know that I will not fail to mention all of you in the memorial in Kalamazoo later this month.
Love and thanks and blessings to you all,
Joe
Dr. Robert Darragh
July 28, 2010
Tim and Family,
Our deepest sympathies go out to you all on the loss of your sister. Please know that we will pray for you and her. The Darragh Family.
Richard Borden
July 27, 2010
I met Rosita when I worked at The Disney Store at Meridian Mall. She came in at least once during every shift I worked. She always told people that I was her boyfriend. I always admired her energy and spirit. She will be greatly missed.
July 27, 2010
On behalf of all Tim's friends at Indianapolis Rowing Center I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to all the extended Cordes family at the sad loss of Rosa. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. Kevin Connolly
Robert Bettman
July 27, 2010
We are sorry for your loss. Your family is in our thoughts and prayers.
DeeDee Miller
July 27, 2010
I have known Michael for over 30years,he is married to my older sister Debrah Sue and have had the pleasure of meeting Jay and Joe when they came to Oregon,I have only talked to Rosita on the phone ,it be 5:30am our time,7:30am Michagan time,and she would laugh and say I,m sorry I just wanted to talk to my big brother.If she was like her big Brothers and Sister then her heart was as big as her Smile.She will be Missed by the people that knew her and even the ones that did not.Our thoughts are with all of you ...
Cheri Albers
July 27, 2010
I have never met a family with more family values than this one. I am truly grateful to have met them and had them in my life. I worked with Rosita for 2 years, and am blessed by the experience. With her help, I decided on where to take my life, and with my help she was able to be free in hers. We laughed together, and I've held her when she cried. Our friendship changed my life, and I am so happy it did.
Karen Hackett Barrow
July 26, 2010
Just sending my prayers and hugs to Mike, Jay and all the family upon the loss of Rosita. One of my fond memories of her was walking to school every morning. As Barb Bettman Chase and I would be walking to school at STA, Rosita would rush down your driveway ahead of us,smiling, books grasped firmly, crisp uniform on and beanie in place. She walked so fast and with such determination that she would be at the school doors before we made it to the end of the parking lot. We were always amazed at her speed and focus and sense of joy. She was, and still is as you appropriately said, a force of nature and will be missed. My sincere sympathy upon your loss,
Michael Cordes
July 26, 2010
I've always thought of my sister Rosita as a special gift from God to our family, but want to say how moved I've been, even to tears, by the condolences & thank all who have shared their wonderful memories of how truely amazing she was & how she touched everyone she came in contact with. I have & will continue to learn many things from my sister and miss her dearly.
Laurie Barnhart
July 26, 2010
How can I sum up my 35 year friendship with Rosita? Words both escape me & overwhelm me. So many memories... From our first meeting in gym class at OHS (helping her with sit-ups: imagine, Rosita, sit-ups!) to our mid-July visit at Tendercare (where we traded compliments on our outfits: imagine, Rosita, fishing for a compliment!) Rosita was a loving & loyal friend. Perseverence is one word that comes to mind to describe her. Whether she was trying to catch the attention of a cute guy, reach someone by phone, endure months in a body cast, or re-learn how to speak, Rosita never gave up! My favorite voice-mail from Rosita is still saved on our system. At the end she says that she'll call again "at 9:00; in the morning; in the evening"... & then she belts out several verses (in the key of "R") of, "In the morning; in the evening; ain't we got fun!" How many more friendships would last a lifetime if we all kept in touch the way Rosita did? Rosita also taught me to: Find comfort in the familiar & routine; buy one in every color & collect the whole set; never miss a chance to smile & wave at a baby; try not to break big bills; savor a good cup of coffee; if reminded of a song, sing out!; never be afraid to tell someone that you love them & how much you miss them; & no matter how bad, throw a pun into every conversation. My relationship with Rosita brought me the bonus benefit of inclusion in many Cordes family activities & communications. A more caring bunch of folks you'll never find. They really emphasize the "family" in "family friend". Many of you experience this & know it to be true. God blessed me when he made my path cross with Rosita's during high school. As an adult, her "eternal youth" added life to my years. What spunk! I miss her so. I'm a better person having known her. What a friend I had in Rosita. My love & sympathy go out to Rosita's entire family, & her friends & fans everywhere. - L
Sue Hilla Clifford
July 26, 2010
Dear Cordes Family, my sincerest sympathy to you! I am praying God will comfort you all with wonderful memories and the knowledge that you will be with her again in Heaven. Extra hugs to Jay and Sue!
Love from "the other Sue C."
July 26, 2010
My family has known the Cordes family and Rosita for 30 years. She would always show us her new eye shadow or her outfit and would notice and compliment me or my girls on their latest fashion trend. Sweet Rosita, see you in heavan. Kate (Alchin) Simon
Brian Martin
July 26, 2010
I used to work at the Disney Store in the Meridian Mall, Rosita would come in to visit with us often. She always had a smile on her face. Rosita was sweet and kind and always brightened our day. My deepest and sincere condolences to the Cordes family. As I have just learned myself, each day gets a little easier to deal with. The pain of your loss will change to the joy of her memory. The family is in my thoughts.
Jill Barr
July 25, 2010
My name is Jill Barr and I used to be the manager of the Disney Store in Okemos. Rosita came into the store everyday and made us smile. She had the best way of saying goodbye to me each day we would go back and forth with the following. See you later alligator, afterwhile crocodile, see you soon big baboon and she would keep saying them as she walked down the mall. I used to tease her because she LOVED Winnie the Pooh and I always called him the other white meat :). I am very sorry for your loss, she was a wonderful person.
kathie Bell Goodnoe
July 25, 2010
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Joe Cordes
July 25, 2010
Just want to thank the countless people in the Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, and E Lansing areas who have expressed their regrets, their love, and their prayers on the occasion of Rosita's death. She impacted people's lives all her life, right up until her last breath. While we are not suprised at her death, as this was her old age (in a Turner's syndrome lifespan), we are still going through the shock of realizing that the journey has come to a conclusion on this earth, and we are already missing her. Knowing she is finally healed in all ways and in the arms of her family and friends in Spirit, is a comfort indeed.
Please ---- Please share your stories of how Rosita has touched your life here in this online Guest Book. We would love to hear from you all.
And kalamazoo folks --- please note that we will have a local Memorial service through St. Thomas More student parish within the month, for those of you who cannot travel to East Lansing. More information on this soon.
Thanks again everyone,
Love,
Joe
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