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Consuelo D. Rocha, a lifelong resident of San Antonio, entered eternal rest on December 5, 2025 at the age of 100. She was born on November 19, 1925 to William and Susie (Martinez) Doria. Chelo, or “Connie” as many knew her, grew up with her mother and five siblings, during the Great Depression. At seventeen, in the midst of WWII, she boarded a train to Seattle, and then a ship to Honolulu, HI, to take a job repairing B-17 bombers, becoming one of the legions of American women we came to know as Rosie the Riveter. She was very proud of her service. After the war, she met Rodolfo “Rudy” Rocha, and they married six months later. In 1947 they bought their first and only home where they raised their family, and where Connie lived for the next 78 years until the day she passed. They were among the earliest members of St. James parish and played an active role in helping to build the church and the school. In the mid-sixties Connie started her career in education as a teacher’s aide in the Headstart program where she eventually became a Headstart teacher, and then an early childhood curriculum developer. For most of the seventies she served as the Director of Wesley Day Care, made up of three church sponsored childcare centers. Also during the seventies, she was selected to serve on the Board of Directors for the NAEYC (The National Association for the Education of Young Children). She was also invited to be a keynote speaker at an international conference on the education of young children in Kiel, West Germany. In 1980, recognizing the shortage of affordable, quality childcare services on the south side of San Antonio, she opened Carino Childcare Center. Forty five years later, Carino continues to serve the community with the same high standards of service, quality, and affordability. In the late 80s she was elected to the SAISD School board. For thirteen years she served in various roles on the board, including as Board President. She was very proud of the progress that was made in the areas of Early Childhood and Elementary education during her tenure. She also served on the Board at TASB (Texas Association of School Boards). After all of that, and now almost eighty years old, she finally retired to a quiet life at her home. She is preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband of 52 years, Rodolfo C. Rocha; daughters, Susan C. Rocha and Angela L. Rocha; brothers, William, Jimmy, and Oscar Doria; and sister, Angelita Moreno. Connie is survived by her daughter, Martha Enriquez and her husband Robert; sons, John Rocha and his wife Peggy Cerna, and Tom Rocha and his wife Leesa; brother, Victor Doria; grandchildren, Sarah, Katie, Morgan, Andrea, Vincent, Michael, Eli, Luke, and Erin; great-grandchildren, Sam and Wyatt; longtime friend and “adopted son” Daniel Espinoza, and numerous other loving family members and friends. The family will be receiving guests to pay their respects on Thursday, December 11, 2025 beginning at 6:30 P.M. followed by a rosary to be recited at 7:00 P.M. at St. James the Apostle Catholic Church. A funeral service will be celebrated at 12:00 noon on Friday, December 12, 2025 at St. James The Apostle Catholic Church, 907 W. Theo Ave. A private interment will follow at a later time at Mission Burial Park South where she will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband, Rudy. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in memory of Connie be made to The DoSeum (formerly the San Antonio Childrens’ Museum).

Tributes

Consuelo D. Rocha

November 19, 1925 - December 5, 2025