Maria Margarita Rosell de Bloese, 66, of Tulsa died on January 15, 2013 at Clare House. Maggie, as she was known, was born on April 17, 1946 in Santiago de Cuba to Carlos Manuel Rosell M.D. and Maria del Carmen Saenz Rosell. Maggie lived in Santiago with her younger brother Carlos (Carlitos) until her parents were forced to send the two youngsters to live with relatives in the United States to escape tyranny in Cuba. Maggie and Carlitos were part of what was known as the 'Peter Pan' flights that allowed Cuban parents to send their children to freedom. Parents and children did not know if they would ever see one another again.
In the United States, Maggie went to live with relatives in Orlando, Florida and Carlitos went to live with relatives in El Paso, Texas. Maggie's relatives were educators with young children so Maggie spent her first year in high school babysitting during the day and going to adult night school. Although she had studied English in Santiago this was total emersion in English for Maggie. Even at this young age her determination to get an education shown through and she continued her education. In total, Maggie attended four different high schools yet she persevered and went to college.
Maggie's parents were eventually able to leave tyranny in Cuba. First, her mother went to Spain and latter her father was allowed to leave on a ship when the United States and Cuba traded humanitarian supplies for Bay of Pigs prisoners. Although Dr. Rosell was not a Bay of Pigs prisoner, he was permitted to leave after being subjected to psychological harassment. In what was not much less than a miracle Maggie's father arrived in Miami, Florida in the morning and her mother arrived that evening. Neither knew that the other would be there.
Once reunited the family worked to achieve success in the United States; Dr. Rosell got US certification so he could work as a doctor in state hospitals and Maggie earned her degree from the University of Oklahoma. While at OU Maggie met her husband Michael and they were married February 1, 1969 at St. Thomas More Chapel in Norman. Maggie was a devoted and loving wife often writing Michael three or four letters per day while he served in Vietnam.
Maggie's love of, and dedication to, family eventually led to their first son David Michael Rosell Bloese. David was joined by a second son, John-Paul Christopher Bloese, and the family flourished. David married Lesley Pierce Bloese and the couple had the new apple of Maggie's eye, her granddaughter Ashtyn Kendall Bloese.
Maggie had not been stagnating during this period. She became a social worker at Oklahoma Department of Human Services from which she retired as a Social Work Supervisor. During her work at DHS Maggie touched many people. Her warmth and concern for people was always on display and many have shared their stories of how Maggie touched them with the family.
Maggie was not content to be active just at work. She loved the Hispanic community and was a founding member of the Hispanic American Foundation.
After Maggie retired, she could be found on the golf course or at St. Francis Hospital or Catholic Charities translating for expectant mothers that did not speak English. Maggie was active in the Career Women's Golf Association and just loved the association with her fellow golfers.
Maggie was predeceased by her brother Carlos 2004.
There will be visitation for Maggie at St. Bernard's Catholic Church Friday January 18 at 5:00 pm. A Rosary will follow at 7:00 pm. A Funeral Mass will be held Saturday January 19 at St. Bernard's at 10:30 am. Interment will be at 1:00 pm January 22, 2013 at Fort Sill National Cemetery.
Arrangements are being handled by Fitzgerald Southwood Colonial Chapel in Tulsa, 918-291-3500.
Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or Clare House.