I knew Rose as my mother-in-law for 39 years. Going through our many albums to find pictures for her memorial service and website provided a wonderful journey through those years and reminder of how many joyful occasions we enjoyed together as a family. There wasn’t a vacation at the shore, holiday, or birthday that didn’t include photos of family at meals and celebrating together. Rose’s face said it all. She loved being with her family. When Bill and I moved back to PA from Florida with our baby, Mike, we did it with the intention that he and any other children we would have would know their grandparents and be able to enjoy the warmth of extended family that Bill and I had enjoyed as children. Rose couldn’t wait to become a grandmother and once that was accomplished, she swooped into our children’s lives with all the attention and love her heart could give. She had a generosity that was already known to all of us, and as a grandmother, her heart overflowed. She couldn’t pass a flea market or toy store without buying some little gift for the boys. But it wasn’t just the “things” that were abundant. It was the attention and unconditional love that flowed from her to our sons that enriched all of our lives. Over the years, I came to know much about Rose’s family life as the youngest of five children of Polish immigrants who struggled greatly with the English language and the ways of a new country. Rose and her family endured many hardships during the depression years. She and her sisters and brother were very close and she loved spending time with and keeping up with all of the details of their families. That family knew how to party and Rose was one of leaders of the fun they all enjoyed together! Rose was a confidant to many of her nieces and nephews, and later in life became the matriarch of the family as her siblings passed—a role that she played with great grace. Rose worked hard all of her life-- nothing came easy to her. Having been a waitress myself, I can tell you that 25 years as a waitress at Dempsey’s took a great toll on her body. But Rose loved life and she loved people and this became most evident to us as when we spent time with her in her Telemart store and witnessed her service to the people of the community. Each item she chose to sell was selected based on her special knowledge of her customers—what they would need and enjoy. We could never convince her to charge enough for a reasonable profit. I’m certain that the many dolls she chose were for others like her—a little girl who never had one. How she loved being a businesswoman and the “notoriety” that her little home shopping show brought her. Having Bill, Mike, and Ryan help out in the studio gave her an opportunity to show off her boys to Pottstown! Rose lived with Bill and I in our home for most of the last 10 years of her life. During much of that time, she worked part-time caring for a neighbor who was a stroke victim. She hated sitting around doing nothing. She wanted to be useful! Macular degeneration took most of her ability to see and work, but Rose somehow managed to play Bingo and she enjoyed her romance novels on tape. She loved sitting in the garden, listening to the pond, and making friends with the birds and squirrels and feeding the fish. Though she had many health issues and became very unsteady on her feet, Rose never complained. She was always pleasant and tried hard to never to be a burden to any of us. A woman of strength and courage, raising a daughter with disabilities made Rose even stronger. She was ever an advocate and she never gave up hope even at the end of Rosemarie’s life. I’m convinced that she would never have given into her own health issues as long as she sensed that Rosemarie needed her. As much as she enjoyed her brief time with us in California, at the end, Rose was ready to join Rosemare. She told Bill, “Rosemarie is calling me.” She knew that her health was failing and she was ready to join her daughter. We are convinced that Rosemarie’s passing literally broke her heart. I wish I could say that I had the generous heart that Rose did. I often resented her suggestions and sometimes found it difficult to share so much of our family time with her. With her indomitable spirit, she seemed bigger than life and was the center of attention when she was in the room. She was so full of life and love. Though it wasn’t a competition, it sometimes felt that way for me. After becoming a mother-in-law and then a grandmother, I think I became more understanding of Rose and was surprised to discover how alike we were—something I feel proud of. She certainly taught me how to be a Grandma! While holding wake in the hospital room after she passed, I had a little time alone with Rose. I sensed that I was forgiven for my shortcomings and that my heartfelt “thank you” for all that she had given us was received by her gracious heart. In her last week of life, here is what I witnessed. Though she couldn’t see him, I’m convinced that Rose knew every detail of Lucas’ face. Though tired and growing more frail, her whole face lit up when he was in the room. I saw the adoration in her face as she looked on Mike and Ryan’s faces in that last week. The tenderness she expressed towards Olga and her baby’s bump. How much she loved Tanya. I know how grateful she was for Bill’s devotion and care in the 25 years since his father passed, and especially in the past months of Rosemarie’s illness and passing. I know how happy she was to be with us all. So I know that Rose is watching over us and that we will always feel her presence in our lives. Rose touched each of us in a special way with her love and care. She was loved by each of us and she will truly be missed greatly. With love, Meg