Rosella O Crooker

Rosella “Nonie” Olfa Crooker (Martinez) passed away Friday, March 3, 2016 in Tracy, CA after she reluctantly let go of her Earthly body to be with her Lord. Rosella was born January 9, 1926 in Tokay, New Mexico. The dear daughter of the late Eduardo and Felecita Jojola Martinez. Cherished sister to the late Sostenita Gallegos, Juan Martinez, Eduardo Martinez, and Celia Martienz. She is survived by her sisters Louisa Rivas (El Paso, TX) and Eloisa Mummey (Albuquerque, NM). Rosella was the beloved wife of 56 years to the late Ashley R. Crooker Jr. During their marriage the two travelled the world while Ashley was an active member of the Air Force, Rosella went from a rural ranching community in New Mexico to Germany, Morocco, Syracuse, NY, and finally planted roots Alameda, CA for 35 years before moving to Tracy in 1999. Through the benefits of military retirement and international association memberships, Rosella and Ashley travelled the world going to Mainland China, Taiwan, and expanded journeys through the United States and Europe. They brought the spoils of travel home with peculiar beer steins, cuckoo clocks, and (much to her chagrin) a Mercedes Benz—that happened to survive the impact of a wheelbarrow on the Nimitz freeway, a forgotten oil change on a cross-country trek, and a couple of joy-riding granddaughters.
Rosella was the devoted mother to Kathryn May of Manteca, CA and Ashley R. Crooker III (Tawnee) of Alameda, CA. The devoted Nonie (grandmother) to her 7 beautiful granddaughters Jaime Welch of Cottonwood Heights, UT, Kristine Barker (Robert) of Pleasant Hill, CA, Melissa Beauchamp (Marc) of Manteca, CA, Heather Saathoff (Mark Grijalva) of Manteca, CA, Kaitlyn Crooker of Fresno, CA, Taylor Crooker of Chico, CA, and Ashlyn Crooker of Alameda, CA. She was blessed with 11 wonderful great-grandchildren with whom she enjoyed their cacophony at family gatherings. Her family was blessed to enjoy “las comidas de los abulelos” at holiday meals—along with turkey and stuffing, they ravished her pozole, empanadas, sopapillas, green roasted chiles and fresh tortillas. The infamous tortillas never stood a chance of survival at the table—while the stuffing recipe from the 1963 TV guide might have been passed around a time or two. Her family became all who entered her home; whether it be a foreign exchange student from Germany or the many friends of her children and grandchildren because all were welcome in her home and they all felt like “family” when they left.
She was a woman of devout faith who spent her life sharing her love of the Lord. “[t]here are no strangers, only friends you haven’t met yet” is a phrase that resonates when you think of Rosella as she would strike up a conversation with anyone and leave with a friend she could call on or see in a crowd and pick up that conversation they last left off.
Her celebration of life will take place at Fry Memorial Chapel in Tracy, CA at 10:00am on Wednesday, March 15th with a visitation starting at 9:00am. She will be laid into rest at the San Joaquin National Cemetery in Santa Nella, CA at 2:00 pm alongside Ashley, Jr.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Hospice of San Joaquin County 3888 Pacific Avenue Stockton, CA 95204, or to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church 1635 Chester Drive Tracy, CA 94377. For condolences to the family, please visit www.frymemorialchapel.com.

---

 Service Information