Rosie Esmeralda LaVallee

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of Rosie E. LaVallee on Monday, August 24, 2026 at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center. We gather for a memorial service to honor Rosie's life at 2 p.m. on Monday, August 31, 2026 at Major Erickson Funeral Home, with Pastor Nick Daugherty officiating. A visitation will be held from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, just prior to the service. Inurnment will take place at Memorial Park Cemetery in Mason City at a later date. Memorials may be directed to the family.

Rocio Esmeralda Reyes—affectionately known as "Rosie" throughout her life—was born on June 4, 1944 in Mexico City, Mexico, the eldest of five children to Jose Ruben Reyes Aguilar and Julieta Elisa Ruiz Galvan. Ever curious, Rosie attended a Catholic school as a child, and soon added French, English, and German to her language repertoire beyond her native Spanish. Her schooling sparked in her an insatiable appetite for reading, learning, and exploration of all sorts, and she would go on to receive a bachelor's degree in education, and much later attended the Lifelong Learner's Program at NIACC.

Rosie met Robert M. LaVallee while travelling in California, and the pair were wed on April 25, 1970. Blessed with two children, Robert S. and Yvette, Rosie and Bob moved to Waterloo, Iowa in 1980, and up to Mason City in 1994. They were faithfully married until Bob's passing in January 2008.

Rosie spent time working as an educator and in the insurance industry, but the bulk of her career was spent as a translator. She was a pioneer for the MercyOne Interpretation Program, and worked tirelessly to improve and expand it for well over twenty years. Outside of work, Rosie enjoyed bringing art to life; creating flower arrangements to brighten someone's day, writing poems and stories, and bringing bulletin boards and floats to life.

Rosie's childhood schooling provided her with much, and also served as the catalyst for her lifelong faith in her God. Her faith was apparent to others from the actions she took and the love she freely gave. Though she stood under 5 feet, she was a force to be reckoned with. She stood 10 toes down for her beliefs and those she believed in, no matter who she stood against. She lived her life unapologetically; confident in her faith and devout in her love.

Rosie was a bad cook and a worse driver, although that never stopped her from getting behind the wheel, or attempting unique food combinations in the kitchen. She loved a harmless prank, a clever comment, and expanding her horizons whenever she could. Her great-granddaughters Piper and Kensley remember their "Little Grandma" as so loving, giving, and caring, full of adventurous tales to tell while looking through family albums, and spending incredible amounts of time on shopping outings, "even though there's only, like, 5 aisles in Aldi's." Her unyielding optimism and ever present hope carried her through every storm she faced in her 82 years on earth. She wanted to be remembered for living for the hope of it all.

"Ella que siembra amor, cosecha felicidad."
"She who sows love, reaps happiness."

Those left to treasure their memories of Rosie include her son, Robert S. (Anna) LaVallee; daughter, Yvette LaVallee; granddaughter, Megan (Ben) Lipp; great-granddaughters Piper and Kensley; siblings, Mireya del Carmen Reyes Ruiz, Patricia Reyes Ruiz, Armando Arturo Reyes Ruiz, and Liselott Aida Reyes Ruiz; and nephew, Miguel Angel Roblero.

Rosie returns to her God and reunites with her husband of 38 years, Robert M. LaVallee, and her parents, Jose Ruben Reyes Aguilar and Julieta Elisa Ruiz Galvan.