Friday, February 13, 2026
Memories from Jarred’s Father-in-Law- Jeffery Larsen:
I met Rosa the first time at a dinner in NYC that Jarred and Marie organized to celebrate their recently announced engagement. I was sitting next to her, a bit nervous that she and her Joe would like their new “parents of the bride”. It took us about 10 minutes to connect.
I told her how much I loved her son and how good I thought he was for Marie and she proceeded to tell me how much she loved my daughter and how good she was for Jarred. We knew we were telling the truth!
By the end to the night Rosa, Joe S and Lauren had bonded with my husband Joe and I in a way that surprised both my Joe and I.
We stayed in touch, but we lived miles apart and then countries apart when my Joe and I moved to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.
When Rosa got sick and needed stem cell treatment, that is leading edge in Mexico, she, Lauren, and for part of the time, Jarred and Marie moved in with us for almost a month.
During that month Joe and I really got to know both Rosa and Lauren and fell in love with them.
Rosa, Joe and I talked for hours together and separately. Since Joe is a phycologist, every conversation is real no matter how hard it is. We talked about life, death, love, babies and what going forward she might be missing out on no matter how much time she could claw out. And she did want to claw as much time as she could.
I had a connection with Rosa, and we had a private conversation between us when she said to me would you like the “kids to have a child?” I said, “more than anything, but it is not my place to say if they should or shouldn’t have a baby”. She said,
“ I want them to have a child too, but I am not saying anything either “ I teased her telling her that I was a Secret Grandpa but that she did a bad job at hiding that she wanted to be a grandma and I was taking her Secret Grandma badge away from her. She laughed since she knew I was right. I am so glad she got her wish!
I figured out that I had 78 meals with Rosa, 26 cocktail hours and so many conversations I could not count them during the 26 days she was with us. We spent more time together than most people spend with their children’s in laws in 20 years. My Joe and I fell in love with Rosa and Lauren during that time. Tears are coming to me now as I type this and I am typing slower feeling the loss that me and my husband feel and that I know all those who knew her are feeling.
My gift to Rosa going forward is that I am committing to tell Sabrina about her grandmother. The Italian food she cooked for us, the stories she told, how happy she was speaking Spanish in our house and in San Miguel, how she loved the main church The Parrogquia in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico and how well she treated everyone during that month and all the many stories that will pop into my head over time.
Her time here on earth was short but her husband Joe, Jarred, Lauren and Marie - and all those she touched - are so much better off that they knew her for the time they did.
Love You Rosa,
Jeff
