Rosita Camarillo Petit Marvel, 91, passed away near her home in Elko, Nevada, on January 17, 2017.
The wife of Thomas Jenkins Marvel and youngest child of Alfred and Rosa (Camarillo) Petit of Ventura County, California, Rosita was born April 9, 1925, in Los Angeles, California.
Rosita had two sisters: Inez (who passed away at the age of 2) and Gloria, and a brother, John. A woman of natural beauty and grace, Rosita was born of Spanish, French and German decent. She was the granddaughter of Justin and Francis (Kaufman) Petit as well as, Adolfo and Isabella (Menchaca) Camarillo of Ventura County, California.
Adolfo Camarillo was considered “The Last Spanish Don,” and the town of Camarillo, California was named in his honor. It was here, in Camarillo, that Rosita, was raised in the old “Californio” tradition on her parents’ Rancho Rosal adjacent to her family’s Rancho Camarillo, formally known as Rancho Callegueas. Rancho Callegueas was one of several historic Spanish land grants made to Spanish Dons in the early days of California settlement. Beef cattle, dairy cattle, walnuts, oranges, lima beans and various other agricultural crops were produced on the ranch. I
n addition, it was also home to the well-known, elegant, white Camarillo horses developed by Rosita’s grandfather, Adolfo Camarillo. Rosita grew up riding these and other fine stock horses in the Spanish Vaquero tradition. Generations were able to enjoy the splendor of the majestic white Camarillo horses in various parades including yearly appearances in the Tournament of Roses Parade and Santa Barbara Fiesta. The riders of these horses were a young Rosita, along with her sister and cousins, dressed in elaborate red satin dresses and riding beautiful silver-mounted saddles with tack adorned in silver.
As a young woman, Rosita attended the College of Notre Dame in Belmont, California. It was during this time, while visiting a school friend in Battle Mountain, Nevada, that she met the love of her life, Thomas “Tom” Jenkins Marvel, a Nevada cowboy and rancher. On December 28, 1945, Tom and Rosita were married in the church built by her grandfather and great-uncle, St. Mary Magdelan’s Catholic Church in Camarillo, California.
As a brave wife on the home front during WWII, Rosita gave birth to the first of their seven children while her husband was still at war. After Tom’s discharge from the U.S. Army in 1947, Tom and Rosita settled in Nevada to begin a life of cattle ranching. Rosita adjusted beautifully to life in Nevada with grace and elegance. She became well-known for her delicious meals and hospitality toward others. The growing Marvel household often spilled over with extra cowboys, visitors, friends, and family who were always welcomed and brought together at Rosita’s table.
As a devout Catholic with a quiet, deep, and unwavering faith, Rosita often drove a long distance to town to attend daily and weekly Mass with her children and family in tow, and always made time for daily recitation of the Rosary. Rosita loved to laugh and enjoyed painting, shopping, raising beautiful flowers, playing the piano, and visiting with family and friends. She was never without her red lipstick. Rosita was forever her husband and family’s “rock.” She lived her life following Christ -- always steady, calm, compassionate, and kind in a world that sometimes was not. By her example, Rosita earned the respect, admiration and love of people everywhere.
Rosita was married to her loving husband, Tom, for nearly 71 years at the time of his passing in October of 2016. She is also preceded in death by her parents Alfred and Rosa Petit, her sister Inez Petit, brother Lt Col John Petit USMC, and sister Gloria Petit Longo and their spouses. Rosita is survived by her seven children and their spouses, Tom (Theresa) Marvel, Suzy (Harvey) Barnes, Mike (Theresa) Marvel, Sally (Billy) Freeman, Joe (Camma) Marvel, Pete (Kathi) Marvel, and Amy (Steve) Seifert; 28 grandchildren, and nearly 40 great-grandchildren, plus numerous nieces and nephews. Services will be held in Elko, Nevada, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with a Rosary on Monday, January 23, 2017, at 6:00 p.m. and a Funeral Mass on Tuesday, January 24 at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations “In Memory of Rosita Marvel” can be made to St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Battle Mountain, Nevada, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Elko, Nevada, or the Camarillo Ranch Foundation in Camarillo, California.
