Rose Marie Dela Vega - Obituary

ose Marie Dela Vega, 96, a longtime resident of Annapolis and previously of Ft. Washington, MD passed away in Annapolis on April 24, 2026. Born in Philadelphia, PA on March 6, 1930, to the late Eliseo and Julia Saranillas, Rose began her working career for the Department of Defense Naval Facilities Engineering Command Chesapeake Division. After retiring from there, she joined RTKL Architectural Engineering Associates, serving as Director of Federal Contracts and Vice President of Marketing. She received many awards during her distinguished career, but most notable was a Presidential Citation in special recognition of her outstanding contribution to greater economy and improvement in Government Operation which was signed by the Secretary of the Navy and President Lyndon B. Johnson. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Annapolis and formerly of St. Columba Catholic Church in Oxon Hill, MD., Atlantic Ballroom USA and was on the Board of Directors of the Society of American Military Engineers. Her hobbies included dancing, bridge, mah jong, video poker, horse racing and college basketball. In addition to her parents, Rose was preceded in death by her husband, Maurice Dela Vega; a daughter, Deborah D. West; a son-in-law, Roy E. Hawkins, Jr. and a grandson, Lawrence “Larry” Stanford West, III. Rose is survived by her children, Renee Hawkins Wight (Jim) of Bridgeville, DE and Richard “Rick” Dela Vega of Ocean City, MD; her loving partner, Charles “Pete” Peters; son-in-law Lawrence “Bill” Stanford West, Jr.; her grandchildren, Christine West, Michelle “Shelley” West, Michael “Greg” West, Roy “Beau” E. Hawkins, III (Kaitlyn) and Stephanie Hawkins Kiernan; and her great grandchildren, Peyton Kiernan, Monty Kiernan, Roy E. “Red” Hawkins, IV, Juniper Hawkins and Luca James West Ross. Relatives and friends are invited to celebrate Rose’s life on Tuesday, May 5, viewing from 10 am until Mass of Christian Burial is offered at 11 am, at Holy Family Catholic Church, 826 W. Central Avenue, Davidsonville, MD. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Online condolences and tributes may be made by using the memories link on this page.