Rosalie (Echeverria) Arruabarrena
Marriages
Martin Arruabarrena
Married at the Basilica of Our Lady of Aranzazu in Onate, Guipuzcoa, Spain
Obituaries
The Daily Sentinel page 4A - September 24, 2022
Rosalie Arruabarrena
went to be with the Lord
on September 14, 2022.
She was 94.
Rosalie was born on
February 25, 1928 to
Miguel and Manuela
(Oyarbide) Echeverria in Baliarrain, Guipuzcoa, Spain.
Educated in private schools, she graduated with honors
and a degree in business.
In 1951 she met the love of her life, Martin
Arruabarrena, whom she married at the Basilica of Our
Lady of Aranzazu in Onate, Guipuzcoa, Spain. Shortly
after, she joined Martin leaving Europe for the USA
and settling in Montrose, CO where they purchased
and operated the Mesa Hotel for 39 years. She always
enjoyed helping and meeting new people and quickly
made friends with everyone she met, maintaining
communication with many throughout her life.
Always willing to lend a hand, Rosalie was an active
member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church where she
volunteered as a Eucharistic minister, spent countless
hours comforting the sick in nursing homes and in
hospitals, and actively participated in the Altar Rosary
Society and the women’s auxiliary group of the Knights
of Columbus.
After retiring from the hotel business in 1990, Rosalie
continued to put the needs of others in front of her own.
She continued her work with the Church and became
dedicated to contributing to the good works of the
Emblem Club (ELKS).
Traveling became a priority in which she enjoyed the
opportunity to see much of the USA and returned to
Europe several times. Closer to home, she enjoyed the
outdoors and became quite a gardener. Neighbors and
friends always complimented her on her prize winning
flowers. She also won several awards for growing her
own fruits and vegetables and for creating delectable
jams, preserves and baked goods that family and friends
heartily enjoyed.
Rosalie moved to Grand Junction in 1998 where she
continued her activities and also became a volunteer for
OUTREACH.
Rosalie spoke four languages and used her talent
conversing with her many friends and family. She lived
her life with respect for the wonder of nature and for her
passionate love of God and family. She was a devoted
wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother who
will be forever cherished.
Preceding her in death were, her loving husband of 59
years, Martin; sister, Maria Dolores and other relatives
in Europe. Survivors include daughter; Rose Morgan of
San Jose, CA and granddaughters; Erin Morgan of San
Jose, CA and Nicole and her husband, Tom Barilla and
great granddaughter, Catherine of Fullerton, CA; son,
Michael and his wife, Deborah and grandsons; Devin
of Denver and Sean of Salt Lake City, UT; daughter
Joan and her husband, George Valdivia of Los Angeles,
CA. She is also survived by her sister, Julia of Logroño,
Spain, several cousins, nieces and nephews in Europe,
several god children, and many close and special
friends. She will be dearly missed.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, September 25th
from 6:00 pm to 7:00 p.m., with a rosary to follow at
7:00 p.m. in the Callahan-Edfast Mortuary Chapel
in Grand Junction. Mass of Christian Burial will be
celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, September 26th at St.
Mary’s Catholic Church in Montrose; followed by a
burial at Cedar Creek Cemetery, Montrose, CO.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be
made to the Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church Building
Fund in Grand Junction, Outreach in Grand Junction or
The Emblem Club #91 Scholarship fund in Montrose.
