Our beloved Melissa Ann Espinoza Rocha, age 39, from Austin, Texas lost her long, hard, courageous battle with cancer on Wednesday morning, September 21, 2011. Melissa was a lifelong Austinite and worked for the IRS for 22 years, working her way up to the position of criminal investigative analyst. She loved life, her husband and children and fought to the very end to stay here for them.
She is survived by her husband Ruben Rocha; her children Brandon Mendez, Jillian and Jonathan Rocha and three step-children Krislyn, Conrad and Ruben; her parents Guadalupe Santos Espinoza and James (Eddie) Espinoza; brothers Paul Roque, and James and Vidal Espinoza; sister Bianca Michelle Espinoza; many aunts, uncles and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her paternal grandmother, Guadalupe Espinoza; her maternal grandmother Consuelo Rivera; her uncle Rojelio Santos and her aunt Mary Angel Benavides; her uncle Albert Acosta and cousin Jr Acosta.
Many thanks to all the wonderful co-workers, family and lifelong friends for their loving support. The family would like to thank the staff at Texas Oncology, Seton Hospital and Austin Hospice for their care and support. Mass of Christian Burial was Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011 at Santa Cruz Catholic Church Buda, Texas. Interment followed at Assumption Cemetery.
