Karen Pittera Bluemel
I had just been with Rose for my weekly visit at the Nursing Home. I polished her nails. Finally she stopped biting them.! A couple of weeks later “ Mike” as she called my husband Rich from the first day they met, and I started our drive to Florida. The second night at a hotel I called my brother to check in and he unwittingly said he felt sad about my Rosie. WHAT? Had no idea. His girlfriend was Herb’s niece. Virginia.
Rose was my second mom and in so many ways taught me more than my mom. I always felt Rose’s love since the day I met her in Morin’s. I was 16. Finally she took me screaming and fighting to Sutherlands where she gave Mr. Murphy and ultimatum “either you hire Karen or I quit “she said. And there it is. After college I became the youngest buyer Sutherland’s ever had and she left her beloved dress Dept to work for me in Children’s. Truth is I learned everything I knew from my second mom. Years later because of a very sensitive issue with the owner , I left Sutherlands. And Rose walked right out with me! She had been there a lifetime I knew how very much she loved me then as I loved her There is not enough time left in my life to write all the wonderful things that Rose and Herb have done for me and my daughter who they adored Lacey called Rose Nana Rose When I had post partum craziness after having Lacey , I called Rose in tears at 2AM. from Holy Family She couldn’t understand my words but I heard her shout “Herb get up. Our girl is in trouble” To them this labor of love was nothing. To me it meant the world. They stayed with me all night Rose would never cease to complement me and would never shy away from chastising me as well She was at every important event in my life and she still is A big part of my heart died when she left us and shortly after Herb too. I was so scared to be without them. But I heard Rosies words in my head. “ you can do it “ She had tragedies in her life but you would never know because she always put everyone first. On one weekly visit to the old homestead I noticed she didn’t get off the couch in our favorite little den filled with family pics She asked if I wanted lunch. Now anyone who knew her understood that’s something she would never say. When she saw a car pull up she and Herb put out 5 courses on the table. Coffee always brewing in that old pot I knew something was wrong. She fell down the cellar steps to the cement floor! . I had never seen bruises like that on anyone. Broke my heart. But she said it was nothing
And how sho loved her grandchildren ! More than anything in the world.
As I get older I pray Rose is still guiding me and the only thing I can do is try to be 1 millimeter as loving and thoughtful as my heroine She made me the woman I am. RIP my wonderful Rosie. I’ll love you always and I’m grateful for all the years you were in my life. K