Obituary of Rose Marie Witherell

On September 12, 2017,��Rose Marie Witherell�(née Dunn), left this earth to be with Jesus. She was ushered into the arms of her Savior by her family, who never left her side during the last few days of her life.�In the garden of our lives, how blessed and fortunate are we to have been given our�Rose. The whole world is a poorer place without her.�While there is assuredly pain and sorrow in the hearts of all she left behind, there is an abundance of joy and elation in knowing that she is free from all anguish and suffering.��Stoic to the very end, Rose never let on just how serious her health issues were or how difficult her life had become.��It is her permanent healing and her physical presence with Christ that allows those of us who love her to carry on until that glorious day when we will see her again.�Now she is healthy and happy, dancing and worshipping endlessly with her Heavenly Father, being reunited with the family members who have welcomed her at the gates of heaven. At long last she is cuddling two grandchildren and a niece she never met on this side of heaven.��Her sons are confident that Rose is in her happy place, with little babies on her lap, running the show, already loving on everyone.�Rose was born in San Jose, California on September 1, 1947 to Hyatt Emmitt Sr. and Margie Rose Dunn. She was the oldest sister in a family of seven children, and second only to her oldest brother. As a young girl, Rose was a tremendous help to her mother around the house, helping with her younger siblings. She was a good student and graduated from Camden High School in San Jose, California. Few know that Rose was a Vietnam widow, losing her first husband to the war just months after they married.��Even so, motherhood was still the desire of Rose’s heart. On October 16, 1965, her son Bruce was born, making her a mother for the first time. �She worked in the county office accounting department until the birth of her second son, Raymond, when she became a stay at home mom/homemaker. To say she was smitten with her boys is putting it mildly.��Always looking after her disabled brother, Hyatt, she volunteered in numerous clubs and activities including Boy Scout troop 399, Go-Getters bowling league and Special Olympics. She assisted her siblings in a most important way, watching a number of her nieces and nephews during the day while their parents worked. Even then, Rose was in the business of loving on children that were not technically hers. �They occupied an enormous part of her heart and her life in California�In 2002, she followed Raymond and his growing family to Colorado where she spent the rest of her life, actively lavishing love on them and everyone else who felt the blessing of knowing her.���Above all else, her family was her obvious focus. She doted on them in tangible ways. Thousands of meals were cooked in her kitchen; tens of thousands of�‘woman’�hours given to ensure her grandchildren had no doubt that they were treasured gifts; miles and miles driven getting kids, grandkids and other relatives to church, sports practices and appointments.��As a mother-in-law, she loved without hesitation or prejudice. She set the standard for anyone hoping to ever be a Grandma.��Rose selflessly continued to serve as the primary caregiver for two of her brothers, living out the promise she had made to her own mother years ago.�The only other priority Rose had was her ministry in the nursery/childcare/AWANA at Mountain Springs Church.��Walking by Rose’s�“office” -�the nursery room�-�on AWANA days seeing her�holding her little Puggles so close to her heart, it could be difficult distinguishing one from the other. �An entire generation of children know her as�“Grandma Rose”.��No family with small children passed through MSC in the last 15 years without experiencing the passion Rose had for all of�‘her’�babies. Her legacy is written on the hearts of each of these precious ones who passed through her arms and lap in every possible program at MSC. Her gifts of hand knitted blankets and balls were extensions of her obvious delight with children. Her love for Jesus oozed out of every pore in the way she gave herself to His calling on her life. The impact she made is substantial and immeasurable.�The tapestry of Rose’s soul is represented by many beautiful�‘threads’.��She has been described as kind, accepting, funny, loyal, amazing, phenomenal, dedicated, unselfish, brutally honest,�“loveliness extreme”, and yes - sassy. She had more energy than anyone her age had the right to have. To be the recipient of a hug and her great big smile could illuminate even the darkest day. Despite living in Colorado, she remained an unshakeable fan to her California sports teams, talking smack with anybody who dared challenge her.��She was fiercely loyal to those whom she loved.�Oh, if we could all just have an ounce of our Rose in our genes, how blessed would we be?����The Witherell family wishes to thank everyone for their support, kind words and their unwavering presence during Rose’s illness.��While the road will be hard, it will still be joyous, for we know that she is with us all, in our hearts and in spirit, for love knows no bounds and she has filled our hearts with that love!�Thank you Lord for loving our Rose, taking her to Your house and preparing a very special mansion for her.�Celebration of Life, 1:00PM, Monday, September 18, 2017 at Mountain Springs Church, 7345 Adventure Way, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80923.Funeral Home:The Springs Funeral Services~North6575 Oakwood Blvd.Colorado Springs, COUSA 80923 Events Service Monday, September 18, 2017 1:00PM Mountain Springs Church 7345 Adventure Way Colorado Springs, CO 80923 Phone: 719-495-6688