Rose Villa, aged 93 1/2 years young, died peacefully in her sleep on May 9, 2024 in Austin, Texas, where she had been living with her family; granddaughter and grandson-in-law Amber and Tobin Esperance; her great granddaughter Arrow; and their two big pups London and Ollie.

Rosie, as she was called by her friends, was born on Dec. 9, 1930 to Fidel and Eva Diaz of Santa Barbara. She grew up in this beautiful town, went to elementary through high school raised in the Baptist church, and soon met her husband for life, Florencio “Lencho” Villa. They would spend 52 years of marriage before his passing in 2002.

Rosie and Lencho met when they were 17, married at 18, and a year later had their only son Steven Villa who still resides in Santa Barbara.

Together, Lencho and Rosie bought and owned the esteemed Tee Off restaurant of Santa Barbara and ran the business for 36 years until their retirement.

Lencho worked as a chef and cooked the restaurant’s famous prime rib dinners, and Rosie was the head hostess and was known to belt out singing to the patrons such tunes as, “Volver, Volver” by one of her favorites Vicente Fernandez. She was indeed a spirited woman.

Rosie loved to read, play piano and sing, and garden, and was known for her beautiful landscapes she’d design and tend to at her different homes over the course of her life.

She is known for being a spitfire of a  little lady, only standing about 5 feet 2 inches tall on her best day; an avid crossword puzzle hobbyist; an amazing crocheter; and was well known for her well crafted, multiple forwarded email jokes to her entire inbox contacts.

Rosie was well known the later part of her years as “Grandma” to all, getting used to the humid and hot, or icy and cold weathers of Austin, Texas, which she never shied away from, reminding her grandchildren what a terrible choice it was to move away from Santa Barbara where the weather was always nice.

Rosie is survived by her beloved grandchildren Amber Esperance (Tobin Esperance) of Austin, and Kyle Villa (Julie Villa)of Broomfield, Colorado; her great grandchildren Jaden Castellanos, Arrow Esperance, Brooklyn Villa, Ashlyn Villa; her beloved daughter-in-law Terri Ann; her last surviving sibling Fidel Diaz of Las Vegas, Nevada, and his children; beloved nieces Linda Kerr and her family, Rachel Diaz-Toner and her family, John; and also by her son Steven.

She will be missed, but we are filled with joy to know that she is now reunited with everyone who predeceased her: husband Lencho, sister Licha and niece Sally May.