Louise Rosser Eineigl

Tribute

Whatever words can convey of a life well lived, follow to give honor.

A woman of remarkable character has passed out of our sight and all who knew her feel their loss. Louise Elizabeth Rosser Perlow Eineigl left this mortal coil peacefully at 11:11 AM, Saturday, October 21st, 2023 four days after her 92nd birthday.

She is survived by her sons, Robert Perlow, John and Richard Eineigl, her daughter Elizabeth Linde and grandsons Peter and James Linde, all living in Western Washington. Louise was pre-deceased by her two former husbands: Joseph Perlow, Raymond Eineigl, and son Raymond Eineigl Jr.

Louise was born to Hope Elizabeth Schalles and Robert Cranston Rosser on October 17th, 1931 in Berwick, Pennsylvania. Raised in frugal times of the Great Depression and rationing of WWII, Louise knew no deprivations because everyone she knew shared the same conditions.

Though an only child, Louise grew up with her aunt and uncle, who moved in with her as children after the passing of her maternal grandmother, becoming an older brother and sister. Louise survived an entire year in bed with rheumatic fever. She fondly recounted with irony that doctors predicted, due to rheumatic fever, that she would never bear children.

Louise attended grade school in Forty Fort, Junior High School in Berwick and McCaskey High School in Lancaster, all in Pennsylvania. Her first job as a sophomore in High School, was secretary to the editor of the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal, where she continued to work through college at Mt. Holyoke. Louise majored in political science, which allowed her to pursue the broadest range of liberal arts courses.

A newspaper co-worker introduced her to a cadet at West Point and she married Joseph Paul Perlow after both graduated, in June of 1953 at West Point, walking out of the chapel through an arch of raised sabers. Louise began life as a military wife, eventually living in 11 states, Japan and Germany and moving homes 47 times! She loved Army life, finding the people to be friendly and social out of necessity, due to moving constantly, of needing to make new friends. Louise began a lifelong correspondence with a large network of friends and relatives, including lengthy, entertaining Christmas newsletters, a constant stream of letters and hand-crafted cards she dubbed “JohnMark” cards.

Three sons followed then a divorce in 1963. Louise returned to working as an assistant editor at the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal. During a visit with friends at West Point, she met her to-be second husband, Raymond John Eineigl, a classmate at West Point with her first, and married him August 6th, 1966 again at West Point but with less formal ritual. Louise’s dreams drew her back to West Point for another go!

Two children followed: Elizabeth Ann and Raymond John Eineigl, Jr, nicknamed “Petey”, from the physical therapy (P.T.) for a broken leg undergone while pregnant. Petey died at the Air Force Academy in 1988 at the age of 19. Louise divorced Ray in 1991.

She swam regularly 5 days a week at the YMCA, no doubt contributing to her longevity, despite being a smoker most of her life. She was an elder then a deacon at Bellevue Presbyterian Church. She was a member of PEO, the Children’s Orthopedic Hospital Guild and volunteered for three years as a bus driver for Kirkland Senior Services, receiving the Kirkland Volunteer of the Year award. She knitted for many friends and knit over 400 hats for the homeless.

In the last 5 years, dementia robbed us of her accessible mind but until the very end, she remained uncomplaining and never lost her lifelong poise and dignity.

Louise’s life of deep faith, generosity and cheerful attitude enlightened the load of many along her journey.

Gifts may be contributed in Louise’s name to the Seattle Children’s Hospital Guild Association

https://www.seattlechildrens.org/giving/guilds/

Memorial services will be Saturday, December 16th at 1 PM, Bellevue Presbyterian Church, 1717 Bellevue WAY NE, Bellevue, Wa. 98004, where her ashes will be interred.

This tribute published in the Seattle Times Sunday Edition, on November 12, 2023:

This bare outline of events misses the meaning of a life of deep faith, generosity and cheerful attitude which enlightened the load of many along Louise’s journey. There is more here where life was lived.

She was a great listener who knew how to leave her ego at the door to conversation, sharing her being through words of encouragement and non-judgmental wisdom which came from a place deeper than common sense. Louise knew how to love by generously paying attention without flinching, above petty attitudes or self-interest. People felt and knew that they had been heard and drew comfort from the positive regard in which they were held. Words are inadequate; all who knew her knew that they were blessed to have known her: kind, humble, wise, witty, positive….

Louise owned a character remarkable for virtues once highly regarded: generosity, humility, tenderness, poise or self-possession, transparent self-less communication and social cooperation. External achievements were never the goal, which was to fulfill the directives of her soul to be loving and true to herself. Raised strictly to high standards of civility and Christian values of character more profound than social acceptance, her parents doted on her and gave her all the support and loving attention she could ask for.

She quoted Shakespeare: “to thine own self be true,...Thou canst not then be false to any man.” in summary version: Be true to yourself. She meant true to your real, soul self, not the weather whims of ego. As a mother and confidant, she made that distinction very clear, brooking no nonsensical dramatics seeking deeper comprehension of our human spirit. One parenting strategy which encouraged taking risks of fledgling flights is that her door was always open, we could always return to her heart, no artificial cut-off of love to force us out of the nest! This approach actually made us independent sooner, as we traversed adolescence with the security of knowing we could fall back at any time, giving us confidence to go our own way sooner than later!

Louise was the envy of many of our friends as teenagers, for her open-minded approachability, how easy she was to talk to and be heard with respect, without condescension. She set a high standard for how to wield intelligence directed by the heart, measuring her worth by how she could contribute to the greater good, one relationship, one communication at a time. As an army wife and mother, she did all the housework, cooking, corresponding and laundry to the sound of musicals, played on a stereo built by her first love, Joe. Records of Camelot, Brigadoon and others were played into unplayable condition by repeated listening, overriding the mundane, keeping alive in inner solitude the dreams of her high spirit.

Louise rarely cried in front of anyone and especially in front of her children. On rare occasions when she did, we knew that we had gone too far, to have taxed our fount of positive energy beyond her limits and we quickly became contrite. Louise commanded obedience as a parent not from the threat of pitching a fit or using emotional blackmail but from her example of surrender to love, from being selflessly loving to the point we were ashamed of acting too selfishly in the face of her always reasonable requests!

One of the unwritten duties of the wife of a career military officer was that of planning or attending entertaining social gatherings. Louise brought her wit and personality to every social event, shining good humor and high spirit with characteristic humility. People who knew Louise were enriched to observe someone remarkably true to her character, her high intelligence acting to untiringly prune the intentions of her being. Practical and down to earth, Louise nonetheless could see the depths in other people and meet them there in conversation.

It was impossible to sustain anger and be out of sorts for long around Louise as her presence shone a steady tender love, toward dogs, children, friends and even husbands! You knew there was more to life than signaled by circumstances, more to people than their identities, more to living than going through the necessary motions! You could feel the light behind appearances shining on through tragedy and comedy, a meaning deeper than any misunderstanding in the moment.

Louise’s life expressed a continuity of love in action, a life well-lived even through tragedy, disappointment and unfulfilled potential. This world cries for more people to learn to be their best self, no matter what! All who have been touched by Louise’s life know in their hearts that we can always find more there to bring to today. In the end, a human life exceeds its limitations, having an immeasurable effect on the body of humanity whose ripples continue throughout life ongoing.

Louise Elizabeth Rosser loved and was beloved for her way of shining through her ever tolerant smiles toward life and all the people she met. What we finally treasure are shared experiences of being more than we think we are. Louise had deep faith that there is far more to life than whatever we think. Her advice to all who asked was “Smile!” and “Use your off-button when you start to worry”. She will be deeply missed by her family and friends.

Some quotes from friends:

"Louise was a big presence in a tiny body. She was so bright and funny, ever the optimist. I never heard her complain and she constantly looked to do for someone else, especially the thoughtful little things that really brightened one’s life."

"Smartest and kindest person I’ve ever known. She never let a challenge to her spirit defeat her. Her self-deprecating humor masked her deep faith which limited her grief and gave her reason to continue to fulfill her obligations to her friends, church community, and children."