Rosa Caro

Rosa Lopez Ruiz Caro, of Grandville, Michigan, went peacefully to be with her Lord on March 18, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of strength, faith, and selfless love.

Born on September 4, 1935, in Cuba, Rosa’s life was marked by perseverance from the very beginning. Raised on a rural farm, she learned responsibility and resilience at an early age as the eldest child in her family. Those qualities shaped every chapter of her life. Rosa was known by many as an “untrained social worker.” With remarkable intuition, compassion, and courage, she helped countless people navigate hardship—welcoming refugees, supporting neighbors in crisis, caring for family members, and quietly stepping in wherever help was needed. She did not need a title to serve others; service was simply who she was.

In the early 1960s, Rosa made the courageous decision to flee communist Cuba in search of freedom and safety for her children. After enduring separation from her young son during Operation Peter Pan, she was eventually reunited with her family in the United States. Together with her beloved husband, Manuel Caro, she rebuilt her life from nothing—first in Miami and then in Grandville, Michigan, where she made her permanent home.

Rosa was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother (Abuela), and great‑grandmother (Bisabuela). She possessed an extraordinary inner strength that carried her through hardship, loss, and widowhood with grace. A gifted hairdresser and entrepreneur, Rosa became the owner of Caro’s Beauty Salon, where she worked for many years, serving her community. Through her work, she not only provided for her family but also created opportunities and community for others.

Rosa’s faith was the foundation of her life. After coming to the United States, she came to know Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, a turning point that shaped her outlook and sustained her through every season. Her faith was lived out daily through humility, generosity, gratitude, and service. Her service extended far beyond her home and community through numerous mission trips to Cuba. These trips were deeply personal and meaningful, as they allowed her to bring much‑needed supplies to family members and faithful pastors in Cuba—quiet acts of generosity that reflected her deep compassion and unwavering commitment to meeting both spiritual and practical needs. Over the years, Rosa was able to make this trip with three of her grandchildren, sharing with them her love for her homeland, her family, and a life of service. Even across borders and generations, Rosa found ways to serve, uplift, and love others well. The family is grateful for all of those who made donations over the years to support those trips and family members in Cuba.

Rosa was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Manuel; her parents; and her sisters and brothers. She is survived by her son, Julio Ruano; daughters, Dinorah (James) Livingston, and Debbie (Randy) Ward; grandsons, JP Hiler, Anthony Hiler, Joseph Hiler, and Jacob Ward; granddaughters, Kathleen Johnson, Hanna (Alex) Schultz, and Melissa Meloche; great‑grandchildren, Olivia Meloche, Alexa Meloche, Max Meloche, and Emma Johnson; sister, Juana Calduch;  and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home (Grandville), 4145 Chicago Dr. SW, on Friday, March 27, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. A celebration of life service will immediately follow at 10:30 a.m. In honor of Rosa, those attending are encouraged to wear something red, which was her favorite color. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mission India, PO Box 141312, Grand Rapids, MI 49514. Rosa’s life was a testimony to courage, faith, and sacrificial love. She helped others survive because she herself was a survivor. Her strength and compassion live on in the generations she raised and the many lives she touched.