Our beloved Anita (Annie) Ortiz De La Rosa has departed our lives and we are all diminished by our loss. She was born on January 27, 1945, the eldest daughter of parents, Robert and Emilia Ortiz who had just returned to San Antonio from Chicago where they both worked supporting the war effort.  Annie graduated Luther Burbank High School, class of 1963.  She worked at Baptist Memorial Hospital downtown for 25 years and 10 years at San Antonio Gastroenterology Associates.

In 1963, Annie and lifelong friend, Rita Meza, attended a teenage dance club named Patio Andaluz. Rita set Annie up on a blind date with her (boy) friend, Joe Castillo's, best friend, Carlos. Before meeting Annie that evening, Carlos told Joe, "I want to dance with her," pointing to Annie, unbeknownst to him she was his blind date. They had their dance and it lasted for 60 years. They married in 1966 and had a loving partnership until April 30, 2023 when cancer intervened and took Annie away.  Annie and Carlos have one daughter Yvonne Marie De La Rosa Flores.

Annie was a great wife, mother, and older sister. Annie loved to travel and Carlos promised her they would. They visited several major cities in the United States, Mexico, & the Caribbean, spent countless weekends traveling Texas, and had a memorable trip to Europe. Annie also liked to have family gatherings and she and Carlos opened their home to their entire extended family hosting many birthday parties, Spurs watch parties and other spontaneous gatherings. Annie was an avid Spurs fan, so much so, that she steeled herself from her illness to attend Tim Duncan's jersey retirement game. She would not have missed it for the world.

She is survived by Carlos, Yvonne, son-in-law Drew Flores, sisters Mary Alice Puga and Amparo Ortiz and brothers Alejandro (wife Rebecca), Antonio (Catherine Ducaj) and Alfredo Ortiz (wife Tori). She was preceded in death by her brother Adolph, mother (Mami) in 1979 and father (Pop) in 2006.  She also leaves behind countless nieces and nephews.

FUNERAL SERVICES

Visitation will begin on Sunday, May 7 ^th at 4:00 P.M. with a Rosary to be recited at 5:00 P.M. at the Angelus Chapel. Funeral Mass will be offered on Monday, May 8 ^th at 9:00 A.M. at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower. Interment will follow in Resurrection Cemetery at Cordi-Marian.