Roel Rojas was born on September 24, 1960, in Robstown, Texas, to Justo Rojas and Eufemia (Hernandez) Rojas. His family later made their home in McKinney, Texas, where Roel attended school and spent much of his life creating memories in the surrounding communities he came to know as home.
Roel’s life was deeply rooted in family. Some of his earliest and most cherished memories were made alongside his brothers and sisters, growing up together, laughing together, and sharing the experiences that would become stories told for years to come. As a young man, he began working alongside his father in landscaping, where he learned the meaning of hard work while also gaining something even more valuable time spent side by side with his dad.
Looking back through the years, Roel’s life can be seen in the many photographs his family has been blessed to hold onto. There are pictures of childhood days with his siblings, moments with his parents, and countless photographs taken with his family and loved ones. Some capture special occasions, while others capture the simplest moments—the kind no one realizes at the time will someday become among the most treasured. Those photographs tell a beautiful story. They are filled with familiar faces, changing seasons of life, laughter, family gatherings, celebrations, and years of memories shared together. Today, they are more than photographs. They remind us of a life lived among the people who loved him and of moments we can always return to, even if only for a little while.
Throughout his life, Roel held many cherished roles. He was a beloved son, father, grandfather, brother, brother-in-law, Tio, and great-Tio. But those titles alone cannot describe what he meant to his family. He was part of their history, their childhoods, their celebrations, their stories, and the memories that helped shape their lives. His presence belonged in familiar places and moments that simply felt like family. Stories about Roel will continue to bring joy and laughter. There will be photographs that bring smiles before the tears come. Familiar places, songs, celebrations, and little moments will unexpectedly bring his memory close again. And as the years pass, his name will continue to be spoken, and his stories will continue to be shared, keeping his memory alive for the generations that follow.
His family finds comfort in believing that this separation is only for a time. Until the day they are together again, Roel will remain close—in every treasured photograph, every story retold, every memory revisited, and every heart that carries his love. He leaves behind a lifetime of memories and a place within his family that will always belong to him.
Roel is survived by his mother, Eufemia Rojas; his children Roel (Martha) Rojas Jr., Joe Garza, Brandy (Michael) DeSantiago; his sisters, Rosa (Dan) Alumbaugh, and Frances (Arnold) Chavez; his grandchildren, many loving nieces and nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Justo Rojas; his brothers, Justo Rojas Jr., Manuel Rojas, Isidoro H. Rojas "Lole"; his sister, Teresa Hernandez and brother-in-law, Francisco
Hernandez, who have now welcomed him with open arms and a warm eternal embrace.