Rosa Elina Mercedes was born on June 24, 1947, in La Romana, Dominican Republic, to the late Nicanor “Nico” Mercedes and Altagracia “Mami Nango” Mercedes. She was raised there alongside her brothers and sisters, surrounded by the family bonds that would remain deeply important to her throughout her life.
After marrying the father of her children, Gerardo Cueto, Rosa migrated to...