Cecilia Marie Rojas

Cecilia Marie Rojas, 88, of Kansas City, Kansas, passed away on Wednesday, December 22, 2021, surrounded by her children and immediate family. Cecilia was born on February 10, 1933, in Kansas City, Kansas, the daughter of Benito and Martina (Garcia) Mendoza. Cecilia was first and foremost a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She was equally dedicated to her many brothers, sisters, and extended family. She was always available to family and friends for support, was a welcoming and kind listener, and provided true counsel to many. Her home was always welcoming to all and the place where many family celebrations were held. Gatherings were important to her as they brought great joy to have her house filled with family, love, and energy. She treasured the many evenings of reminiscing of past special and life-changing moments around her dining room table with her cookie jar always full. Cecilia began working at a very young age with her sisters to help support their large family. She took great pride in all of her jobs, from a nurse’s aide, gift wrapper at some of Kansas City’s poshest department stores, to a long tenure at GoldBlatt Tool company, where she also served as a union steward, representing the employees. Her sense of fairness and justice were her guiding principles in all things. Cecilia and her husband James would travel with their family as much as they could, for fun and for Union work. She loved to travel, from her early years with her beloved sister, to later in life when she was always ready for the next adventure with her children and family members. Cecilia was most proud of her children and grandchildren. She spent most of her retired life going to many soccer games, watching her son’s band play on weekends with close friends, and attending and assisting with community events. Cecilia had a good sense of humor and lived her life with optimism, deep faith, humility, and looking forward to the next outing with family and friends. Cecilia is preceded in death by both of her parents; her loving husband James Rojas; brother Martin Mendoza and sisters Margaret Carter, Paulina Guzman, and Ramona Cornelison. She is survived by her son James C. Rojas (Nadine Price-Rojas); daughters Cecilia (Oscar Monterroso) Rojas and Elizabeth (Brian) Freeman; brothers Henry Mendoza and Benny Mendoza; sisters Helen Garcia, Cruz Vasquez, Antonette Mendoza, and Christina Mendoza, along with seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. A visitation will take place on Wednesday, January 12, 2022, from 5:30-7:30 P.M. with a rosary service beginning at 6:30 P.M. at Maple Hill Funeral Home. A mass service will be held on Thursday, January 13, 2022, at St. Joseph/ St. Benedict Catholic Church in Kansas City, Kansas at 11:00 A.M. The family requests donations to UsAgainstAlzheimer’s in lieu of flowers, www.usagainstalzheimers.org.

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Cecilia Marie Rojas

February 10, 1933 - December 22, 2021