Rosemary Littlefield

Rosemom (as her family called her) was born in Fort Collins, Colorado on Jan 24, 1931 the middle of 5 siblings. When she was 13 the family moved to Denver, with Rosemary riding in the back of the truck on top of the furniture.

Described as vivacious, tough, compassionate, adventurous, spunky – her growing up was full of family, sports, friends, hiking, chores – full of life.

And then, on a blind date roller skating, she met Bill Littlefield, and her adventure brought her to New Hampshire. Bill was in the Air Force, stationed in Denver. They married when she was 20 yrs old. After a year of marriage, they moved back to his hometown of Dover NH, and there raised three sons - Michael, David and Jim.

To Rosemary – life was an adventure. She played and coached softball, volleyball, and basketball. Later in her career she was an activities director at nursing homes, including an Alzheimer’s unit. She took up golf at age 70. Learned to drive a school bus. Took up ceramics and woodworking (we still have a ceramic nativity set and wooden banana trees).

And fishing! Summers at the Littlefield family cabin in Maine. Nightcrawlers on hooks. Then she cleaned the fish and fried them up for breakfast.

She did not let the distance from extended family stop her. Every few years she and Bill (and Michael and David – Jim had not arrived yet!) drove the 2000 miles from NH to Denver to visit her extended family (in a VW bug!). She flew across the Pacific (twice!) on her own to visit her grandchildren there in Taiwan (and another trip to Singapore). She flew to Oklahoma and Arkansas to be with family. And drove down the road to her beloved grandchildren there in Maine.

Her faith was strong, drawing from the depth of Midwest Catholic faith and immersion in the New England Baptist faith. In her final days she loved a sign that read “don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything”. Active in church, she led Bible Studies, a youth group, took in foster children, cared for neighbors.

She made sure that her sons had opportunity to try different things. She supported their preferences and did not push them to be something they were not. Michael in Scouts, David in sports, Jim in the trades. And all with a love for life and people.

Football! She rooted for the Patriots when living in New England (with the Maine Littlefields gathered around!), for the Broncos when living in Colorado, and for both when they played each other (she wore a Patriots jacket over her Broncos sweatshirt!).

In her 70s she moved to the Olde Mill in southern Maine (a mill built in 1861). On our visits we tried to keep up as she raced around the neighborhood on her little red scooter pointing out the buckets catching sap from the sugar maples, on our way to get ice cream. At age 85 her adventure brought her back to Colorado to assisted living group homes. She loved drives to the mountains and enjoyed a Frosty from Wendys. At 93 she moved to a secure memory unit, where she was loved. She still knew family, gave strong hugs, and had a grip that seemed to never let go! Even then she wanted to make sure everyone was taken care of. When she forgot that she lived there, the staff would gently remind her. Then she would worry, “What about them?” pointing to the other residents. After being assured everyone had a room, she would sigh with relief and proceed to yell up and down the hallways “Everyone has a room! Go to your room!”

She woke in the arms of Jesus the morning of January 21, 2026, just 3 days shy of her 95th birthday.

Rosemary’s enjoyment of life, robust character, and deep faith enhanced every good moment into extraordinary ones. Through hard times, they sustained her and gave her strength. In Rosemary’s adult years she endured cancer, minor strokes, broken bones, shingles. She moved away from friends and lost loved ones.

Through the years Rosemary mourned the death of her parents and each of her siblings. She lost aunts, uncles, cousins, and her husband Bill. She grieved the passing of two beloved daughters-in-law. And the greatest loss was burying her sweet son Jim, who died at age 47.

You would never know to talk with Rosemary that she had gone through so much. Rosemary continued to live the best she could amid the pain, walking with great hope in Jesus. She “offered it up”, living out her mom’s prayer in her own quiet, genuine faith.

She is survived by an extended and blended family of grandchildren, great grandchildren, friends, cousins, nieces and nephews. (too many to list!). She is considered a role-model, a friend, a mentor, and an exceptional woman. It is no surprise that she was referred to as the “favorite aunt”, the “most fun aunt”, or “Rose-Mom”.

5 years ago, we asked our friend Cheryl to write a legacy for Rosemom. That legacy closed with these words: [Rosemary was asked how she described herself] “She laughed and said, ‘And I am still alive at 90’. This last statement, though said in jest, rings truth. Rosemary has been and continues to live life abundantly. When the day finally comes for her last move from this earthly home to her heavenly one, she is ready to embrace the adventure with no need to look back. For Rosemary, being fully, truly alive is what she has been practicing for all her life”.

She is now more alive than she has ever been. And heaven got sweeter.

A memorial service will be held at Olinger Chapel Hill Mortuary & Cemetery, located at 6601 South Colorado Blvd, Centennial, CO 80121, on February 28, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. The memorial service will be available via live stream at the following URL: [https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/c26016770371474" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/c26016770371474](https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/c26016770371474).

A reception will follow at the same location from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.