Rosa Ordonez

Rosa Romanelli Ordóñez died peacefully at age 98 in Mount Vernon, Washington on July 22, 2025. She was born in Detroit, Michigan, to Giacomo and Constantina Romanelli (Ferrulli), Italian immigrants. At the University of Michigan, Rosa met the love of her life, Carlos Ordóñez, an immigrant from Guatemala. After graduation, they moved to Buffalo, New York, where Rosa gave birth to three daughters and four sons. Rosa later lived with her family in Staunton, Virginia, and West Richland, Washington.
Mama Rosa, as she was affectionately called by her family, instilled in her children the love of nature, art, music, reading and cooking. She was fluent in Spanish, spoke some Italian, and was a fabulous cook, known for her black bean soup, and her skills baking pizza and bread. Mama Rosa wrote to her Guatemalan in-laws in Spanish on a monthly basis and recounted her adventures to her children via letter writing after they left home. Rosa believed in an inquisitive mind and a strong healthy body. When they were young, she would take her children to the library once a week, and as they grew, she drove them to their various sports and activities. Rosa practiced what she preached, swimming 1 mile every day until she was 71 years old. She treasured children throughout her life; they sparked joy in her, and she always seemed to have the right toys for them to play with.
Mama Rosa loved to travel with her husband; together they went to Argentina, Baja California, Brazil, Canadian Maritimes, Guatemala, Morocco, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Spain, Tahiti, and Venezuela, Alaska, California, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Oregon (for the Shakespeare Festival), Utah, Vermont, and the Western US National Parks.
Rosa's husband, Carlos, her sister Domenica Chevalier, her brother Pascuale Romanelli, and her grandson, Nitai Drury, preceded her in death. Mama Rosa is survived by her 7 children: Anita Ordóñez, Carmen Ordóñez (Bob Zatorski), Nityo Carlos Ordóñez (Radha Ramkaree), Miguel Ordóñez (Wanpen), George Ordóñez (Marlene), Joe Ordóñez (Yvonne Granger), and Rita Ordóñez (Ron Farrell); 10 grandchildren: Dustin Drury, Supanika Ordóñez, Vaani Ganeson, Isabela Ordóñez, Rafael Ordóñez, Roland Farrell, Olivia Farrell, Stella Ordóñez, Jesse Ordóñez and Sapphire Ordóñez; 2 great grandsons: Timothy and DD Ackerman, and her brother, Frank Romanelli.
The family would like to thank the staff at Mira Vista Care Center for the loving affection they gave her, and the staff at The Bridge at Mount Vernon who cared for her for as well. Special thanks to Connie LeSourd at Kern Funeral Home for her kindness and understanding. Donations in Rosa's name may be made to NAMI Skagit (https://namiskagit.org/get-involved/ donate/).