2019 -- H 5018

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LC000179

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF JOSEFINA "DOÑA FEFA"

ROSARIO

     Introduced By: Representatives Diaz, Slater, Williams, Mendez, and Maldonado

     Date Introduced: January 03, 2019

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Josefina "Doña Fefa" Rosario, a beloved figure within the Rhode Island

Latino community, passed away after a long illness at Our Lady of Fatima Hospital; and

     WHEREAS, Josefina Rosario was born in 1928 in the Dominican Republic and grew up

between the town of Villa Elisa and Santo Domingo, the nation's capital. In 1949 she immigrated

to the United States and lived in New York City with her sister, Minerva. After meeting the love

of her life, her husband Tony, they moved to New Haven before later finding work in Providence

in 1959; and

     WHEREAS, Mrs. Rosario went on to establish a legacy in Providence as one of the most

pre-eminent members of the Hispanic community. She was the founder of the first Latino store in

Rhode Island, Fefa's Market on Broad Street, and many consider it to have been the beginning of

Hispanic commerce in Rhode Island. Her inspiration for opening her store was her desire to sell

foods familiar to Latinos, foods she grew up with as a child. She would travel to New York City

every two weeks to restock her store, and while there she would talk up Providence to the people

she met and, as a result, some went back with her to Providence and stayed. Additionally, her

business was also a community center and this was by design as Mrs. Rosario desired a place

where people in the community could come together in one room; and

     WHEREAS, In addition to the store, Mrs. Rosario and her husband owned a three-story

house on Chester Street where they would provide housing at low rates to newcomers until they

could find new housing. She also helped many new arrivals in their quest to find work. In honor

of her legacy, the Providence Children's Museum in 2006 memorialized her store as part of its

"Coming to Rhode Island" exhibit; and

     WHEREAS, Josefina Rosario was predeceased by her husband, Tony Rosario. She leaves

behind her three children, Cecilia Santana, Miriam Reyes, and Madelaine Rosario, and several

grandchildren; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby expresses its condolences on the passing of Josephine "Doña Fefa"

Rosario; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certifies copies of this resolution to Cecilia Santana, Miriam Reyes and Madelaine

Rosario.

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LC000179

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