Rose Rolfsen

"With tears we watched you leave this world and slowly fade away. Our hearts were sadly broken as you fought so hard to stay. We know your time to leave had come, but you did not go alone, for part of us went with you on the day God called you home. We celebrate your earthly life- its human form now ended; knowing you're with Jesus helps our broken hearts be mended."

Rose Marie Schwartz Rolfsen, (Rose), 84, passed away peacefully at home on June 24, 2015, in Baton Rouge. Visitation will be on Sunday, June 28, 2015, from 5:00 PM till 7:00 PM at Resthaven and will continue the next morning at St. George Catholic Church beginning at 9:00 AM to be followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM.

Rose was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 62 years, Robert J. Rolfsen (Bob). She is survived by their 7 children: Chuck & Cassie Rolfsen of Lithia, FL, Dr. Mike & Jeannette Rolfsen, Chris & Marlene Rolfsen, Suzanne & Cal Odom of Alexandria, VA, Rob & Margaret Rolfsen of Nashville, TN, Cathy & Jon Jackson, and Beth Rolfsen of Atlanta, GA. Rose adored and loved spending time with her 20 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren: Abigail Lenahan & husband Sean (and son Finn), Alex & wife Aimee, Andrew, Olivia, Madeline, and Peter Rolfsen; Dr. Michael Rolfsen Jr. & wife Maria (and son Jourdan and daughter Lucy Jane), Melissa, Dr. Matthew, Mark, and Mary Rolfsen; Brandon Rolfsen and Heather Rolfsen (and daughter Andree); Caroline and James Odom; Robert and Meg Rolfsen; Julia, Thomas, and Jon Aaron Jackson. Rose is survived by four brothers, Dutch, Howard, Carl, and Larry and two sisters, Sadie Schultz and Sugar Taylor. She was preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Sadie Schwartz, and siblings Bob Schwartz, Mary Ann Pryatel, Leroy Schwartz and Pat Causin.

Rose Marie Schwartz was born in Covington, Kentucky, on May 16, 1931. She married the love of her life, Robert J. Rolfsen, Sr., in 1952. They moved to Baton Rouge in 1968 and she worked for 25 years in real estate with Cramer and Associates and then De Tarnowsky, Shiflett and Kyle. She was a loving and nurturing mother and, in 1977, she was recognized by the Sunday Advocate as a Mother of the Year. Given her many blessings, she found great joy in giving back and was active with many charities, including the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for whom she raised over $120,000 by participating in seven St. Anthony's Triathlons in Tampa, FL between her 75th and 82nd birthdays for which she was recognized as a 2010 People's Health Champion. Also, she volunteered or cooked meals monthly for the Bishop Ott Men's Shelter, weekly at the St. Vincent de Paul dining hall and regularly for Boys Hope and Girls Hope of Baton Rouge. She was active with the Baton Rouge Food Bank and the Westminster-Pine Park Civic Association. Rose was a parishioner of St. George Catholic Church where she was active with the Prayer Blanket Group. She loved baking homemade breads and cookies with her grandchildren, sewing, and spending time with the Friday Night Bunch (Gertrude and Charles Cramer, Karen and Errol Gautreau and Ednice and Lee Savoy) with whom she and Bob got together every Friday night for 35 years.) She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend to all and will be missed greatly.

Her pallbearers will be grandsons Alex Rolfsen, Michael Rolfsen, Brandon Rolfsen, James Odom, Robert Rolfsen, III, and Thomas Jackson. Honorary Pallbearers will be the Friday Night Bunch.

The family would like to give special thanks to the nurses and staff of Hospice of Baton Rouge for their kindness, compassion and gentle care given to Rose and her family during their time of need. Special thanks also to Dr. Vince Tumminello and Dr. Mark Hodges.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. Vincent de Paul or the Baton Rouge Food Bank. Rose's life was epitomized by her favorite quote, "In the things that matter, we are all millionaires!" She has now gone on to collect an even greater reward.

Visitation

Resthaven Funeral Home
11817 Jefferson Highway
Baton Rouge, LA  70816
Sunday, June 28, 2015
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

St. George Catholic Church
7808 St. George Drive
Baton Rouge, LA  70809
Monday, June 29, 2015
9:00 am-10:00 am

Service

Mass of Christian Burial

St. George Catholic Church
7808 St. George Drive
Baton Rouge, LA  70809
Monday, June 29, 2015
10:00 am

Cemetery

St. George Cemetery
7808 St. George Dr.
Baton Rouge, LA  70809