Rosario A Tavora

Our beloved Rosario "Aring" Aspiras Tavora left us peacefully on June 28, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. Rosario was born on August 2, 1931, in Los Baños, the Philippines, the second of four children of Dominador and Dionisia Aspiras. She was a meticulous and diligent student, earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of the Philippines, Los Baños. When Rosario was in her early 20s, she traveled to visit her sister in Agoo, La Union, who was teaching high school there. The sisters went to a dance in the town plaza, where Expedito "Dity" Tavora first laid eyes on his future wife, Aring. Ever the jokester, Dity charmed Aring throughout their courtship, leading to their marriage on January 17, 1959. Rosario worked as a chemist at the Bureau of Soils in the Philippines until the late 1960s, when she was given the opportunity, as a Rotary scholar, to move to the US for her graduate degree at the University of Georgia, Athens. Dity followed Rosario to the US, and the pair reunited in Los Angeles before eventually settling in Menlo Park. The Tavoras welcomed their much-loved daughter, Anna, in May 1973. In Menlo Park, Rosario excelled in her career as a chemist, working for several years at a pharmaceutical company called ALZA Corporation in Palo Alto. She was a critical member of the team that developed controlled-release transdermal patches for drugs such as Nicoderm and Dramamine — an innovation that changed how patients received treatment and remained a highlight of Rosario's career. Those who knew Rosario know that she lived her life with deep faith, a charitable soul, and a kind heart. She found joy and comfort in her faith and in the community at St. Raymond's Catholic Church in Menlo Park, where she was a longtime parishioner. She gave generously to her favorite charities and wanted everyone around her to be happy and loved. She often expressed her love through feeding people, making sure that no one who came to her home left hungry. One of Rosario's most prominent qualities was her curiosity — she loved learning about different people and cultures. She and Dity traveled extensively throughout their lives and loved visiting exotic places with family and friends. Those lucky enough to know Rosario knew of her profound love for her family, friends, and community. She and Dity were lovingly married for 65 years before his passing on June 29, 2024. Rosario leaves behind her daughter, Anna (Anthony) Enerio; two granddaughters, Isabella and Samantha, of Menlo Park, CA; and her brothers, Marcelo (Resurrecion) Aspiras and Roger (Lucy) Aspiras, along with many cherished nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Dity Tavora, and her sister, Lourdes Aspiras Dator.

Rosario A Tavora

August 2, 1931 - June 28, 2026