- 120 North Illinois Street – Belleville, IL 62220
- (618) 233-5400
Rosario Santos
Rose graduated from Grade School and High School from the College of the Holy Spirit in Manila, Philippines. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics majoring in Food and Nutrition from the University of the Philippines and her Master of Science Degree in Food Nutrition and Institution Administration from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Ok. She was a member of the University of the Philippines Student Catholic Action, Sigma Delta Phi Sorority, and the University of the Philippines Choir.
She completed her Dietetic Internship at Charity Hospital, New Orleans, Louisiana. She served as Clinical Dietitian at Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Connecticut, and New York Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.
Rose served as Director of Dietetic Internship and Food Service Director at the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Center in Quezon City, Philippines. She served as the Head Dietitian at St. Elizabeth’s in Belleville, IL, and as a Nutritionist at St. Clair County Health Department where she retired in 2001.
Rose enjoyed her retirement traveling with her husband in Europe and Asia and cruises to Alaska, Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexican Riviera, and the Panama Canal.
Rose was an active member of St. Henry Catholic Church in Belleville, IL, having served as Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister and past coordinator of the Parish Prayer Chain Email Group. She was a member of the St. Henry Social Justice and Peace Committee and the St. Henry Ladies Club.
Rose was a professed member of St. Peter Fraternity Secular Franciscan Order in Belleville, IL since 2005 where she served as Treasurer, Council Member, and Librarian and managed the Fraternity Prayer Chain Email Group. She was a faithful and regular Adorer at the Eucharistic Perpetual Adoration Chapel in Belleville where she served as Hourly and Afternoon Division Coordinator.
Rose volunteered at the Program and Services for Older Persons at Southwestern Illinois College and at the Shelter Shop in Belleville.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Irineo Sr. and Ines, nee Viloria, Felarca; six brothers, Vicente Felarca, Guillermo Felarca, Manuel Felarca, Wilfredo Felarca, Purificador Felarca and Irineo Felarca Jr; a sister, Caridad Rabuco; two sisters-in-law, Ofelia de la Cruz-Felarca and Editha Saavedra Piñga Felarca; and a brother-in-law, Benjamin Rabuco Jr.
Surviving are her beloved husband, Antonio Gonzales Santos, whom she married on September 29, 1968, at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Quezon City, Philippines; three children, Maria (Troy) Kilbreath of Chesterfield, MO, Antonio (Candice Fornero) Santos of Belleville, IL, and Michelle (Ronald Jr) Hardin of St. Louis, MO; five grandchildren, Justin, Austin and Allie Kilbreath, and Isaac and Ines Santos; a sister, Esperanza (Hector) Arkoncel; three sisters-in-law, Erlinda Espanola Felarca, Evelyn Lacuna Felarca, and Arlyn Marchan Felarca; and many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and cousins in the United States and Philippines.
The family would like to thank the countless staff at Barnes Jewish Hospital Stroke Center in St. Louis, MO, Brooking Park in Chesterfield, MO and Missouri Baptist Medical Center in St. Louis, MO, for their medical care, compassion, love, and support for our family.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in the form of Masses or donations at St. Henry Catholic Church in Belleville, IL, or to the charity of the donor’s choice. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, May 17, 2021, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL, and from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 18, 2021, at St. Henry Catholic Church, Belleville, IL.
Funeral: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 18, 2021, at St. Henry Catholic Church, Belleville, IL with Reverend Kenneth J. York officiating.
Interment will be at Lake View Memorial Gardens, Fairview Heights, IL.