Rosa Hedwig Paiva

Mass of Christian Burial for Rosa Hedwig Paiva will be 10 a.m., Sat., Oct. 23, at St. Cecilia Catholic Church with Father Paul Eichhoff officiating. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the funeral home Fri. 3-7 p.m. A prayer service will be held 7 p.m., Fri., at the Musgrove-Merriott-Smith Chapel.

Rosa died Wed., Oct. 20, 2010, at Claremore Regional Hospital at the age of 71.

The daughter of Wilhelm and Maria (Frieden) Hermes was born Feb. 12, 1939, in Ehrang, Germany. In 1963, Rosa met and married Donald Arthur Paiva in Kordel, Germany while he was stationed in Germany with the United States Air Force. In 1966, after the birth of their two sons Robert and William, they moved from Germany to the United States. Rosa dedicated her life to her children and their development. When both boys were school age she decided to go back to work in the public school system. She always felt it was important to be home with her sons when they weren't in school to provide them with love, guidance, and support and those kinds of jobs afforded her that opportunity. Most recently she worked in the cafeteria at Roosa Elementary School, where she was known as "Rosa from Roosa", until the birth of her first grandchild provided her the impetus to retire. She was a member of St. Cecilia Catholic Church, loved to work in her yard, and provided unconditional love and support to her children and grandchildren. In addition, realizing her commitment was now with her family in the United States she became a US citizen in the mid 1990s. Rosa was always willing to put her interests behind those of her family and friends. She will always be remembered for her quick smile and her compassionate ear.

Rosa was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Arthur Paiva on Feb. 22, 2010; and her sister, Brunhilda Hollen.

She is survived by her sons: Robert Paiva and wife, Kendra White Paiva, PhD, and William Paiva, Ph.D and wife, Amy Cherie Paiva all of Tulsa; grandchildren: Gordon James Paiva, Mitchell Deveaux Paiva, and Adeline Cherie Paiva all of Tulsa; sister, Ingold Horras and husband, Hans of Trier, Germany; niece, Gaby Schmitt and husband, Herbert of Bernkastel, Germany; and nephews: Werner Hollen and wife, Angelika of Grossbergwedel, Germany, and Markus Horras and wife, Catrin of Dusseldorf, Germany.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Claremore Public School Foundation, P.O. Box 575, Claremore, OK 74018.