Celebration of Life – Rosalia Sullivan
Rosalia Sullivan
Passed August 17, 2017
As many of you know Rosalia Sullivan became very sick last year (2016). After numerous visits to Valley Medical and then finally a hospital stay at Harborview where they diagnosed her with Poems Disease.
She was in terrible pain but she fought hard to keep it together and to continue to build her strength back and walk. She was finally diagnosed at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance with a blood cancer and care was transferred to City of Hope in California where her family could be close.
Rosalia underwent Chemotherapy on July 13, 2017 and then a then a stem cell transplant the next day. She fought hard including multiple infections and her kidneys failed but she still continued to fight until August 17, 2017 when she lost that battle.
Rosalia loved to dance and loved her friends in the Seattle area. This was her home and the people here were her family. Dance a dance for Rosalia and she will be there in spirit.
Her family would like to do a memorial in the next month or two in the Seattle area per her wishes. We will try to notify everyone when we hear the details.
“She was always positive and friendly to everyone when she danced at the Rockin’ Horse Dance Barn. She was a great dancer full of fun energy. She was too young and she will be missed.” Dave Serfling
Rosalia was one of the first people to befriend me when I started to dance. Try as I might, I was never able to ‘catch up’ to her dance abilities and I often simply watched her as she flew by, watching her feet and arms and everything she did so I could try to do them myself on the floor, always dreaming of becoming as good of a dancer as she was. Words don’t convey the sadness I feel at her leaving us, but I am so glad that she is no longer in pain and can now soar to her heart’s content with the angels. She is truly a Dancing Queen among the stars now…..
Thank you Cindy
Rosalia was an excellent dancer and moved with such style out on the floor. She was always bubbly and never seem to be afraid to be her genuine self. She will be missed.
Rebecca Kellwe
Rosalia’s death is such a great loss to the local dance community. She was fabulous dancer, but even more important, she was fabulous human being. That’s what we will celebrate, and the loss of her humanity is what makes our hearts heavy today. I was fortunate to have known her. “May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest,” Rosalia
Thank you Vic
Rosalia always had a smile on her face. And a warm hello whenever we met. Rest. You are missed dear one.
Sherry
Thank you Sherry
Rosalia was a great person. Her smile was infectious. Prayers to her family with a loss of her way too soon.
Thank you Melanie
Rosalia had an infectious joy for dance that she transmitted to everyone. I can recall my first clumsy steps with Rosalia when I first began dancing. Her kind guidance and reassurance came to spawned a confidence that enabled a new level of passion in my dance. When Rosalia and I last spoke just few weeks before her passing we for the first time shared our perspectives on this with each other. It was always an honor to share a dance with this angel. Until we can dance once again, I love you and your contagious smile, rest with peace Rosalia.
Tom
Thank you Tom
My thoughts are with you all. I hope happy memories can be a comfort to you during this difficult time.
I had the privilege to work with her for 8 years and she was so joyful all the time. What a lady.
Thank you Anne
Rosalia was a friend on the dance floor and off. I will cherish the fun times we shared as she was settling into her house and on Lake Washington out on a friend’s boat. What a sweet, sweet spirit she had. I’m so sad I won’t be able to see her on this Earthly dance floor any more. So glad she is dancing pain-free while following flawlessly with her Perfect Partner! Thank you Rosalia for your happiness and smile, you were a light in so many people’s dark places. My prayers are with Rosalia’s family, may the Peace of Jesus be with you during this sad and heartbreaking time.
Thank you Shawn
Yes she always had that beautiful smile. Loved watching her dance…what a beautiful lady inside and out.
Thank you Irene
Rosalia was always upbeat with a smile that made you want to smile back. A beautiful gal full of positive energy. She was always enjoyable to visit with. She seemed genuinely interested in what you had to say. Our lost is the lords gain. Our prayers and sympathies go out to her family. May the lord guide you as you continue to move forward.
God bless you,
Ray & Laura Helms
Thank you Ray and Laura
Rosalia was a great dancer and as a male who had danced with her thru out the years. I enjoyed dancing with her on the hardwoods such as Two Step and WCS. She was a blast of fun. Always that smile that warms peoples hearts. The eyes that you can see her soul was a person with a great personality. The Lord must had plans for this young attractive dancer. Too young to have had this terrible disease (cancer) that causes death to many people. She will be missed by me, fellow dancers, all her friends and her family. May the Lord be with her family during this rough time losing a daughter so young. Thank you Rosalia for the many dances and your smile.
Thank you Eugene
Rosalia and I worked together for several years. She was such a bright spot in every day. I did not have the pleasure to watch Rosalia dance but I can just imagine her smile as she flowed across a dance floor. May her spirit continue to dance and inspire! Rest in peace sweet one.
Thank you Joyce
I met Rosalia at the Rockin Horse Dance Barn many years ago, she was so friendly and always had a great big smile on her face, I will miss our long talks where we fixed all the troubles of the world, remembering all the laughs that we shared together brings a smile to my face. She was so confident that this treatment would work so that she could get back to dancing, and back to her life. My heart is broken that she lost this fight. My prayers are with her children, family, and friends, I pray for their peace and comfort, Blessings on you my dear friend you will always have a special place in my heart.
Rosalia was a beautiful, special person that I was privileged to know. She always made me feel welcome when I would go dancing & what a wonderful dancer she was! God Bless her family & friends, she was taken from us way too soon. She is no longer in pain & heaven just got sweeter!
I use to just stare at Rosalia whenever she was dancing. She had a smile and energy that was contagious. I am so sad. I’ve been talking with her through this medical journey and been praying for her. I guess God thought it was time to have her come dance in heaven. Oh Rosalia I will miss you!!! Thank you for living life so wonderfully!!
I remember her from Sweetheart Jamboree. I didn’t really know her, but did recognize her and she was always smiling. So sorry for this loss.
Sad to hear of Rosalia’s passing. Whenever she came to the Barn for dancing she always made a point to come visit the front desk to say “Hi” while resting from a twirl or two before heading back out on the dance floor. I will miss her beautiful smile and friendliness. Her stuggle is over. Hope she is dancing with angels.
Terri
Rosalia, Ten years ago, when I first started dancing, I immediately noticed as you swept around the floor, but your form & style so intimadated me that I would not consider asking you for a dance. However, what finally gave me the nerve, was our talks – you were always so friendly and welcoming – and then there was that electric smile of yours! After our first dance, there was no turning back – whenever our paths crossed, we would enjoy some high energy moving around the dance floor – what a fun & interesting lady! – Rosalia, while I hope that you are in a pain free, better place, you are already missed here on this earthly dance floor. JPH
I met Rosalia many years ago at a Singles dance event in Seattle. She was so full of spirit and coupled with her huge smile she was infectious. She dance with abandon. We became friends and often ran into each other at dances throughout the pacific NW. She shared with me her goals and struggles. She was a strong, determined woman. I had not seen that side of her when I first met her. She had a beautiful spirit and seemed to have a sense when someone needed a kind word of encourage. I rarely saw a weakness. Even when she contacted me from California to tell me about her hopes for a positive outcome. I wish I could have been there to offer the kind of support I have seen her offer others over the years. There are no words. None that are equal to her Magnetic energy. It’s hard to imagine not seeing her smiling face light up the rooms full of dancers. She shined. I can only believe she continues to shine. I just need to expierence her in a new way. Rest in piece Rosalia
Omg my thoughts and prayers go out to her family. Rosalia was such a very happy person and had such a bubbly personality. We used to go to the gym together at Aerojet. She used to encourage me to never give up. We had so much fun together. She will be missed.
Rosalia was such a kind and happy person to me. A shinning light in the dance world. She will be missed. My thoughts go out to her family and friends.
Rosalia was so warm and welcoming to me as I stepped out on my own to country dance at the Hayloft. It was because her that so many of us showed up on a Friday night to dance. She was always there to make me feel like I was her long lost friend I am so going to miss you my friend, I’ll have a dance for you.
Rosalia and I worked together. I still can’t believe that she has
gone. We kept in touch until she went to her treatment in California. My deepest sympathy to the family. She will be missed
Altho it’s been umpteen years, many of us remember Rosalia’s sparkling enthusiasm lighting up the dance floor in her pretty seasonal dresses at the old PWP and Mountaineers Dances. Thank you Rosalia !
Rosalia and I worked together years ago and kept in touch
Never a surprise to find her at a gathering with niether of us knowing we both would be there so its a small world. It crushed me in late June when we talked ,and she told me what was next and how she felt, she loved to dance and that she could do that best ever and then she learned to ride bought a bike then sold it she said she would buy another and we would go riding when she got better, i guess she’ll be riding with me going forward in spirit with that big smile of hers and i bet shes dancing in heaven gonna miss the hours on the phone with you my friend.
Rosalia was beautiful inside and out . She was always very pleasant to be around and a great dancer !
You’ll be missed my friend ! May your spirit dance on !
Thoughts and prayers are with Rosalia family !