Longtime Grants Pass resident, Rosa Lorreen Galli, 69, went home to be with our Lord on Friday, January 24, 2020. She went peacefully, at home, surrounded by all of her family.
Rosa was born on November 30, 1950, in San Francisco, California, to Robert and Christine Northcutt. She grew up in San Luis Obispo with her mom, brother and sister, as she lost her father, Robert, at the age of one. She enjoyed her childhood there and became a Christian at a young age. At church camp, she learned Jesus was the Father of the fatherless, which made her feel so loved and special.
Rosa graduated in 1968 from San Luis Obispo High School and worked at Cal Poly University as a secretary. Her family moved to Oregon in March of 1970 and they opened the White Cabin Café on 6th Street.
She met Mel Galli Jr. in the summer of 1970 and had a whirlwind romance! She introduced Mel to her mother on the day they left for Reno to be married, on December 7th that same year. Mel and Rosa raised their five children - Melody, Heidi, Melvin (III), Robert and Christina - in Grants Pass, then Sutherlin, Oregon, and San Ramon, California, and then back to Grants Pass in the spring of 1986.
Rosa worked as a legal secretary, was a waitress at the Hong Kong restaurant, was a rural mail carrier in the Merlin-Galice area, and found her true calling working in Childrenâs Ministry at River Valley Community Church in 1999. She has shared her love of Jesus with kids of all ages, from babies through high school â teaching Sunday School, directing Kidsâ Camps, going on high school Mexico mission trips, cooking for over a decade of Family Camps and directing the Calico Street Childrenâs program.
Rosa was an amazing example of a loving mother. She devoted her life to loving and nurturing her family and all Godâs children. She loved everybody and truly cared for them as her own children. Rosa always did what she could to help and encourage everyone. She was a faithful, tireless servant of God. Rosa showed her Love with her great big smile and hugs for everyone, and now our Rosa is smiling in the face of Jesus.
Rosa is survived by her husband, Melvin J. Galli, Jr.; their five children â Melody (Gary) Chapman, Heidi (Ryan) Meyer, Melvin III(Annie) Galli, Robert (Bethany) Galli, and Christina (Jonathan) Lemke; 15 grandchildren; her sister, Charlotte Rachor; and brother, Robert Northcutt.