[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 9 (Thursday, February 7, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E112-E113]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO ROSEMARY HOLGUIN COLUNGA

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JOE BACA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 7, 2002

  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of a woman who was very 
special to me, to my aide, Ruby Ramirez, and to the entire Colton 
community. I rise to pay tribute to the life of Rosemary Holguin 
Colunga, beloved community activist, volunteer and leader.
  Rosemary was active in every kind of community organization from her 
high school days until her death. Rosemary was a woman who dedicated 
her life to the people of her community. She had visions of opening 
doors for those less fortunate making sure that everyone had a chance 
in life.
  Rosemary, herself, was no stranger to hardship. She was born on 
September 6, 1937 in San Bernardino, California, the second child of 
Jose Ramon and Catherine Holguin Colunga. Shortly afterwards, her 
parents moved to the City of Colton to raise their children, and 
Rosemary would remain a member of the Colton community for the rest of 
her life. She attended Garfield/Woodrow Wilson School continuing her 
education at Colton High School, but she had to drop out of school due 
to an illness. Never one to be defeated by life, Rosemary regained her 
health and earned her high school diploma from San Bernardino Valley 
College going on to earn an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts and 
completing a general secretarial course at Skadron Business College.
  While Rosemary's education prepared her for a career in business, her 
heart belonged to service. In 1968 she began working for the anti-
poverty programs for the San Bernardino County, and later coordinated 
community services for the City of Bloomington. Rosemary was pivotal in 
bringing Loma Linda University's low-income neighborhood to open a 
clinic for area residents.
  After working for the City of Bloomington for nine years, Rosemary 
moved to her own neighborhood of South Colton to become the Facility 
Coordinator for the City of Colton at the Luque Multi-Service Center at 
Veterans Memorial Park.The Luque Center was located in a low-income 
area, but this did not stop Rosemary from bringing every available 
program to the center that was offered uptown. If any of the programs 
were unavailable at her center, then she would just take the people 
uptown where they could enjoy the services in her typical ``can-do'' 
spirit.
  Her community involvement did not stop with her career. Service was a 
way of life for Rosemary. Rosemary became the president of Woodrow 
Wilson's PTA when no one else wanted to take on the responsibility even 
though she had no children of her own. Rosemary was determined not to 
let the students go without community leadership. She was also the 
first, and only, female president of Los Padrinos, a community 
organization. Rosemary was also active in her local Catholic Church, 
San Salvador where she served as a lecturer, Eucharistic minister and 
sang in the choir. Her fellow parishioners remember that her beautiful 
voice that brought tears to their eyes, because she was singing ``from 
her heart.''
  Rosemary was particularly devoted to the very young and the very old 
of her community. She organized outings for the senior citizens of 
South Colton such as sight seeing, shopping and gambling. She truly 
loved spending time with the seniors referring to them as ``my 
Viejitos.'' The youth of her community were always seeking Rosemary's 
advice and she spent endless hours counseling, scolding and working 
with them at the centers. Many members of the Colton community count 
Rosemary as one of their mentors.
  Rosemary's service to her community did not go unnoticed during her 
lifetime. She received accolades and awards from countless 
organizations, the late Congressman George Brown, Lt. Governor Cruz 
Bustamonte, State Senator Nell Soto, the City of Colton, and the Colton 
Joint Unified School District. Rosemary was nominated by Assemblyman 
John Longville and received the ``Woman of the Year 2000'' award, which 
she always considered her greatest accomplishment.

[[Page E113]]

  Rosemary passed away on February 2, 2002 surrounded by her loving 
family. She was preceded in death by her brother Ramon Holguin Colunga, 
and is survived by brother William Holguin Colunga, and sisters Elvira 
Colunga Hernandez, and Olivia Colunga Gonzalez. She also leaves behind 
nine nieces and nephews, as well as seventeen great-nieces and nephews. 
Her family, innumerable friends and the entire community will miss her 
greatly.
  And so Mr. Speaker, I submit this loving memorial to be included in 
the archives of the history of this great nation. For women like 
Rosemary Holguin Colunga are what make this nation great. Women like 
Rosemary leave a legacy of lives filled with dedication to the people 
of their community. She is the fabric from which our nation was 
created.

                          ____________________