Rosella "Rosie" L. Garlitz

Rosella Ludella Garlitz, or “Rosie” as everyone knew her, passed from this life into the arms of God on August 20, 2021, with her husband, Bernie, by her side as she transitioned from this life to the next. She was 83 years old.

On December 23, 1937, Rosie was born to her parents Elmer and Eldrid Cary, becoming the second of seven children.

After graduating from Eastern High School in 1956, she went on to work as a secretary for the Lansing school district until her retirement in 1989.

On August 19, 1958, Rosie married her first husband Kenneth Young, spending over eighteen years of marriage together until Kenneth’s sudden passing in 1976. Together, they had two children, Kenneth and Amy.

In 1988, she married Bernard “Bernie” Garlitz, enjoying over 33 years of marriage side by side.

Throughout her life, Rosie loved to travel cross-country with her family, spending many summers camping with Bernie, and especially enjoyed vacationing at the cottage with the grandkids. As many will attest, “Grandma Rosie” would never miss an opportunity to spoil her grandchildren. Whether it was some of her famous homemade jam or fresh-squeezed lemonade, Rosie always made sure the grands were fed and happy. One of her favorite camping pass-times was spending countless evenings around the kitchen table playing cards with her family and friends; no matter what game she played, cardshark Rosie always seemed to win. At family events, her contagious laugh with her captivating art of storytelling brought a smile to everyone’s face.

Rosella will always be remembered for the beautiful quilts she crafted for her loved ones. Creating hundreds of quilts together, Bernie and Rosie were a dynamic quilting duo as Rosie would sew the quilt tops and Bernie would finish with the batting and quilting.

Undoubtedly, Rosie was one special lady, a woman with a strong will and the strength to persist in the midst of many health trials throughout her life. She was a wife, a mother, a grandma, a great-grandma, a sister, a daughter, and most importantly, a child of God. She will never be forgotten.

Rosie is survived by many who will deeply miss her, including her husband, Bernie; her children Kenneth (Denise) Young, Amy (Scott) Thompson, and Kristin (Kevin) Adam; her grandchildren, Betsy (Ryan) Gilmore, Cortney (Milan) Bogdanovic, Heather (Charlie) Wilber, Kenny (Chelsea) Young, Jesse Thompson, Sarah Thompson, Abigail Thompson, Hannah Thompson, Parker Adam, Logan Adam, Stella Adam, and Sullivan Adam; and her nine great-grandchildren.

She is predeceased by her parents, Elmer and Eldrid; and her siblings, Geraldine, Eldrid, and Russell.