Rose Marie Leinaala Benjamin

April 23, 1955 - September 9, 2021

Rose Marie Leinaala (Soares) Benjamin “Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! In Christ I am anointed and a powerful person of God. I am blessed coming in, and I am blessed going out.” (From Rose Marie Leinaala (Soares) Benjamin’s Daily Confession of Faith) Rose has dedicated much of her 66 years on earth, following the path of Christianity and believing that her purpose and mission in life was to do God’s work. With the holy spirit, she has touched many with her dedication to God. She has given to all her churches, faithfully and generously throughout the years. She has walked the path of giving back to those who have little in the world and who are needy, weak, and homeless. Her empathy arising from her own personal struggles and experiences caused by her bi-polar disorder which at times has put her on the same unfortunate and tumultuous path as those whom she tried to help. Her faith in Christianity has given her the strength to overcome and survive. Her love for God, for Jesus, and for all who believe has been her saving grace. Rose died September 9, 2021 from a hemmorrhage of the brain due to a severe stroke caused by Covid-19. She leaves behind her younger son, Gabe Aukai Benjamin and her two grandchildren, Kahealani Carmen Benjamin and Gabe Aukai “Kainoa” Benjamin Jr. Lee Kekoa Benjamin, her older son, died March 10, 2021. She also leaves her siblings: Clement “Butch” Soares Jr., Eva Pualeilani Santos, Pauline Toscano, Archibald “Eassie” Soares-Haae, and Alex Soares. She will also be remembered by many nieces and nephews. Rose grew up in Waianae and enlisted in the Air Force after graduating from Waianae High School in 1973 and served until 1981. Being a retired veteran, it allowed her to fulfil a dream of hers recently, becoming a home owner. She bought herself an apartment in Makaha Valley. She was a woman of big dreams and aspirations. Throughout her life, she had a passion for business and strived to one day be a success at combining her faith in God with her aspirations to be a business woman. She was intelligent, determined, and a woman of her own being, unique, complicated, and, at times, misunderstood, but she was always loved by those who knew her. “By the living word of God, I shall prevail, standing on the promises of God.” (A quote from a poster on her Facebook page.)Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, December 11, 2021 at 10:00am at the Waianae Assembly Of God at 84-123 Makaha Valley Road, Waianae, Hi 96792. Any condolatory contributions should be made payable to Gabe A. Benjamin, next of kin and youngest son of Rose Benjamin.