Obituary

Mario Rochin of Avondale, AZ died January 16, 2020, in Phoenix, AZ. He was born January 4, 1925, in Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico to Hector Clemente Rochin and Librada Loreto. He graduated from Douglas High School where his athletic ability earned him a role on the All-State High School football roster as well as a scholarship to Texas Western University. He served as a Technical Specialist in the US Army from 1943 – 1946 achieving the rank of Sergeant TEC 4 and was a veteran of the Asiatic Pacific military campaign during WWII.

There is nothing that Mario couldn’t do. He graduated from the University of Texas-El Paso. He was an accomplished Civil Engineer and worked for Phelps Dodge for over 45 years. Blessed with athletic ability he was a boxer and played basketball, baseball, and football. He was an avid fan of the Arizona Diamondbacks. He loved to travel and take pictures of the many places he visited. He liked to read and preferred westerns. He was a great dancer – cumbias was his favorite. He took pleasure in the simple things of life and appreciated good soup, chocolate cake with canned milk on it and canned peaches. He enjoyed tending to his lemon and orange trees.  He especially loved spending time with his family. He was a devoted Christian man who cherished his wife, his children, and all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mario is survived by his wife, Mary; daughters, Rosa Moreno (Rocky) , Olga Rodriguez (Albert), Libby Helm (Randy), and Carmen Dunn; sons, Mario Rochin (Yolanda), Michael Rochin, Carlos Rochin (Lisa), Louis Matamoros (Edna), David Matamoros (Beverly), Joseph Matamoros, and Javier Matamoros; sister, Rosita Rochin; brother, Hector Rochin; 41 grandchildren; and 34 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Librada and Hector Rochin; and his brother, Carlos.

A visitation will be held from 5:00 – 8:00 pm with a rosary at 7:00 pm, Wednesday, January 22, 2020, at Thompson Funeral Chapel, 926 S. Litchfield Road, Goodyear, AZ 85338. A funeral mass will be at 10:00 am on Thursday, January 23, 2020, at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 539 E La Pasada Blvd, Goodyear, AZ 85338. Burial will take place at 12:30 pm, Thursday, January 23, 2020, at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 N Cave Creek Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85024.  Condolences for the family may be left below.

Jesus Needed an Engineer

I believe heaven is perfect. We might ask ourselves if it is perfect and we enjoy earthly careers and skills would god allow us to continue them in heaven if that is what his souls wanted?

All miners have mining in their blood. Could miners who have passed away, ask God for a mine to continue their passion? I believe so. I have imagined this fictional story, or can we say it is possible?

Miners in heaven get to do what they are passionate about, mine. They started a special project and needed an Engineer. Not just any Engineer, but the best.

They went to our Lord and asked him for help. They said Lord we need the best engineer. The Lord turned to Peter who is the pearly gates keeper and asked him, “Peter, where is our Engineer?” The Lord said, “You know, the one we have been saving for an important project. The one who is the Godly man, he is good, loves all people unconditionally, he keeps my commands, he is a leader that shows the rest of us how to be a gentleman, always bringing joy to others. You know the one who preaches my name all day and does so without saying a word.”

Peter responded, “Lord we have not called him home yet.” Jesus said, “Bring my beloved Mario Rochin home. Heaven needs an Engineer.”