Things that will forever remind me of Grandma:

1. The smell of Listerine. Her bathroom always smelled like it & the smell always takes me back. 
2. German potato salad. Hands down, Grandmas was the best. No one can make it like she did. 
3. Canned tomatoes from her garden. I wish I had a jar right now. 
4. Sticky rolls at Christmas. My mouth is watering just thinking about them.
5. Long plastic Dairy Queen spoons. There was always an abundance in her silverware drawer.
6. â€œThe Last Supperâ€ painting. It was always hanging above the dining room table. Long before I knew that it was a famous work by daVinci, I knew it as the painting hanging at Grandma's.  
7. Snickelfritz. I always just assumed this was a made up Granda-ism. Turns out it's actually a word derived from the Pennsylvania Dutch. It's an affectionate term for a mischievous or overly talkative child. Seems like a perfect fit for the family, right?  

I'm sure there are many more things that seem to trigger my memories of Grandma. These are just a few that I thought I would share.

I'll always remember grandma for her smile and laugh. It always came across as calming, sincere and jovial. Every memory I have of her, that laugh and smile come to mind. It's comforting to always have those pleasant memories of her.

Hi Mom!!
I wanted to start off by saying you brought into this world some great writers. Each and every letter touched my heart just like you touched theirs. You are one remarkable lady, Mom, Grandma and Great-Grandma. 
Here's a story I would like to share: It’s about Mom and her junk yard of old ringer washers and it goes something like this. My friend Mike Thess came over to the house to take a look at all the ringer washers downstairs. Mike then started to go through them. He came up with problem in each one; Mom simply wore the motors out.  He then suggested as did some of the family members before him, why don’t you get a new “automatic washer”? Well Mom wasn’t having anything to do with a new “automatic washer”. Mom proceeded to tell Mike they don’t get your clothes as clean and she wasn’t having one in her basement.  So we went to plan “B” Mike then called around town to all of the appliance stores until we got a motor to replace the old one. It seed like a couple of hours Mike had our old one out and the new one up and running. 
Mom then tried to pay Mike but Mike wouldn’t have anything to do with that. They went round and round about it. I think he settled for some fresh vegetables out of the garden. Thanks Mike, you were always a true friend, My Mom really liked you. 
So for me the best times were the holidays that’s when our family was the closest. I can remember Kathy and me waiting for Charlei to get home from college. We would run out to meet him in front of the house and grab his luggage then sit around telling stories with the rest of the family. I remember one year in a bad snow storm Mark was coming home from Kansas for the holidays with some of his roommates. As the story goes they were loaded down with cases of Coor’s beer, snow all over the highways and highway patrol closing stretches of highway right behind them. They went off the road numerous times that night and each time they got pulled out it cost them a case of beer. I think by the time they made it home, they ended up with a six pack. 
Christmas was always special. You would go to sleep the night before, with no sign of Christmas in sight. Only to get up early the next morning to a full blown Christmas, with a tree, nativity scene, a train going around the tree and presents all over the floor. Mom had fooled me for years, she truly was remarkable. 
She always without a doubt made you feel special and that you were a good person. Afterwards you knew she loved you very much and that she had always had your back and no one was going to come between you and her kids. 
Mom’s life was her kids and her religious faith. I think her faith kept her strong Lord knows we tested it over the years. Mom instilled in each of us good family values, strong work habits. We may not have had a lot of money growing up but there was always a lot of love and I’ll take that any day. 
Dad, I know you are looking down on us today. Mom did an incredible job raising all of us. Even though I  didn’t get to know you for very long I believe you had a hand in that to. Just wanted to say thanks, I am very happy that both of you are together again, Mom really needs you. 
Mom, it is so hard to let you go.God Bless you Mom.  Love your son, Tommy.

Being a part of the Roesslein family has been such a blessing for me and my children. The wonderful stories of courage, endurance, persistence and love that have been shared about Ann have touched me deeply. Wishing that I would have known her years before the onset of Alzheimer, I am honored to be a part of those last few precious weeks. Our daughter, Emily and I would “swing” by and pick up Father Burgoon on Monday’s. We would then go to the nursing home and we would pray with Ann. Father would share stories with Emily and I on the route about Ann’s never ending faith and never failing love for her children. He would share stories about her and the determination she had after Joe died, she never complained. Teary-eyed by the time we got there Father walked in and began talking to Ann as if they saw each other yesterday. Even in her darkest hour, she perked up and prayed with him. As we began to leave Father said Ann, I will be praying for you. She said, Father I will be praying for you too. It was the sweetest thing. For me is what the summation of her life, always concerned about everyone but herself, even the Priest.

I remember a trip with Ann and Minnie, Jo Ann and I took Ann and Minnie to Frankenstein where they were both born.  The old homestead where they had lived burned down years ago.  We found a creek bed on the property and Ann and Minnie both looked for a spring they remembered as kids.  They never found the spring but they had great fun remembering things from their childhood and it was great to watch them.  
 
What impressed me the most about Ann was her strength in her faith.

Nothing I can say or remember can truly do Grandma justice. She was much more than I can ever hope to convey with mere words alone. Something so complicated that words could never truly describe, but a moment with her would convey perfectly.  She was, in my mind, the perfect grandmother. But, more than that, she was the perfect person for what I viewed the human heart capable of. She represents all I could ever hope to be. So loving and kind, but filled with strength and conviction that I believe few could emulate. There is not a single memory of her that I don't cherish. It is a sad thing for a family to lose someone as great and loving as Grandma was for us. But, if nothing else, we know this: each and every person whose life she touched she made better in some way both small and great. And though we will all miss her she has, without any shred of doubt, gone on to a wonderful place where she will be patiently awaiting the rest of her family to join her.

Like all the other grandchildren, we all loved going to Grandma's for the way she made us all feel special in our own way.  When I was a little kid I used to love go and help my dad till grandma's garden and cut her grass.  Grandma was excited every year to be able to get into that garden.  As I got older I would go and cut grandma's grass on my own sometimes.  Grandma always wanted to give me money for doing it.  I always felt bad taking her money for cutting the grass, but at the same time she always made me feel worse if I did not take it.  Most of all I will miss Grandma's laugh the most.  To me, it was always a silly giggle.  Hopefully my daughter will be able to hear the stories of Grandma and know how much strength and love she had for everyone.  I will miss you and always love you grandma.

There are so many memories of mom that will be remembered forever!
Her in the garden, the hundreds of tomato plants, she started in egg cartons. The baking cookies with our boys,every time they stayed.
  The cooking for the boys she would jump up to do when they would tell her, they hadn`t eaten....when they had!
  The colored Easter eggs,every year, even and especially that last Easter, when we were not sure if we should eat them. It didn`t matter!
  The german potato salad,that can`t be matched. The canned tomatoes in the middle of winter. The way we laugh at her pickles,because she would get so aggravated because they were never as good as Aunt Minnie`s.
  The holidays at her house when there were so many of us there, we couldn`t move.
   The unconditional love no matter what.
   As little Jimmy said, the days at the big river with uncle Vince and aunt Rosila and any Roesslein`s that could make it.
   We all have special memories,some private, some not so but,all filled with love for a woman who gave herself to her family completely. I only hope that our grandchildren will be able to know her through everyone`s wonderful memories!

    ~Mary and Big Jimmy Roesslein

Our fondest memory of Anna is the first time meeting her. She opened her loving arms to us as if we had been in her life since the beginning. Anna began telling us about all of her wonderful children and the house they lived in. I asked her how everyone slept in such a small home and she replied without hesitation, 'We never needed a big home. We had love and that's all you'll ever need.' 

Anna taught us more in the short amount of time that we had with her than most people learn in a lifetime. She was truly an angel and we are very blessed to have been a part of her loving family.

Being the oldest grandchild, I had the luxury of knowing my grandmother maybe a little better than the rest of her grandchildren. I could speak of the trip to New Jersey with her and her daughters,my Aunts, to visit Charlie and Jan. Or maybe the old "Big River" weekends with  Her, Uncle Vince, Aunt Rosalia, and any number of Aunt's and Uncle's during the summer's of the early 1980's. All of the grandchildren have the memories of baking cookies in her kitchen on sleep-overs, and anyone who encountered her knew instantly she would give anything to help people. My singular greatest memory of my grandmother was the time in my early 20's on a friday afternoon I stopped by to just say "Hi" and to see how she was doing. That stop turned out to be one of the best conversations I have ever had with anyone. We talked about everyday life, family, God, baking, gardening, etc.. Then I started asking questions about my grandfather and how she had the strength to go on. Her love of her family and Christ was her answer. We both cried a bit and then laughed about the fact we were both crying. We all miss you grandma but you are where you're suppose to be. As I told her that friday afternoon, She was a living Angel and anyone who knew her would agree.

CHARLES’S THOUGHTS FOR MOM’S FUNERAL

I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING…YOUR PRESENCE MEANS A LOT AND IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED

WE WANT TO THANK FR. BURGOON….MOM BENEFITTED FROM HIS ADVICE AND COUNSEL MANY TIMES AND HER MEETINGS WITH HIM BROUGHT HER COMFORT.

MOM HAD A GREAT LIFE…90+ YEARS… A PEACEFUL DEATH…SHE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT…AND SHE LEFT A  LEGACY OF 9 KIDS, 16 GRAND CHILDREN AND 11 GREAT GRAND CHILDREN WHO WILL CONTINUE TO CARRY A PIECE OF HER INFLUENCE THROUGHOUT  THEIR  LIVES 
SHE LEFT US WITH A LOT BUT I THINK THREE THINGS MEANT EVERYTHING
1.  DETERMINATION
• MOM WOULD TRY ANYTHING; AND SHE NEVER GAVE UP
• SHE MODELED THE BEHAVIOR OF DETERMINATION
• SHE WAS ALWAYS IN THE GAME OF LIFE
• SHE WAS A HARD WORKER; ALWAYS HONEST; YOU COULD COUNT ON MOM
2. RELIGIOUS FAITH
• LOVE OF GOD AND HER CATHOLIC FAITH WERE THE CENTERPIECE OF HER LIFE
• SHE LIVED THE LIFE CHRIST TAUGHT
• SHE WAS OUR ROLE MODEL FOR HOW TO DO IT RIGHT
• SHE WAS ALWAYS READING TO FURTHER HER KNOWLEDGE AND TRYING TO TEACH US WHAT SHE BELIEVED AND LEARNED… SHE WAS OUR “PERSONAL CONTINUIOUS RELIGIOUS EDUCATION COACH”
LECTURN STORY:
NOW THAT DOESN’T MEAN WE WERE ALWAYS RECEPTIVE OR DIDN’T QUESTION HER OR GIVE HER A HARD TIME
ONCE AFTER ONE OF HER LECTURES…I MEAN LESSONS…WE SUGGESTED SHE CALL FATHER AND TELL HIM THAT SHE WOULD GIVE THE SERMON FOR HIM NEXT SUNDAY
WE SAID MOM JUST GET BEHIND THE LECTURN LEAN IT A LITTLE FORWARD INTO THE CROWD AND PREACH TO THEM WHILE AT THE SAME TIME SHAKING YOUR FINGER AT THEM.  IT WILL WORK.
NATURALLY SHE WAS NOT PLEASED WITH OUR TEASING…BUT WE TOLD HER IT WOULD MAKE HER STRONGER
WORK ON SUNDAY STORY:
AND THEN THERE WERE OTHER BENEFITS OF HER LESSONS THAT WERE NOT OBVIOUS AT THE TIME OF THE LESSON
This is especially true if you could remember the lesson
LIKE ONE SUNDAY AN AUNT CALLED (I WON’T MENTION ANY NAMES) AND TOLD MOM, ANN HAVE THOSE BOYS COME OVER AND PICK UP THE APPLES THAT HAVE FALLEN ON THE GROUND FROM MY MANY APPLE TREES (WE WOULD SAY HUNDREDS BUT IN REALITY IT WAS PROBABLY 8-10)
WELL THAT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT APPEALED TO US BOYS AT THE TIME
THEN IN A MOMENT OF BRILLIANCE WE REMEMBERED ONE OF MOM’S LESSONS…KEEP HOLY THE LORD’S DAY…SUNDAY WAS DAY OF REST…YOU SHOULDN’T BE WORKING ON SUNDAY
WHEN WE REMINDED MOM SHE CALLED OUR AUNT AND NEEDLESS TO SAY OUR AUNT WAS LESS THAN PLEASED…WE DIDN’T THINK SHE HAD EVER HEARD THAT IMPORTANT LESSON BEFORE
THE MAIN THING WAS WE WERE OFF THE HOOK THAT DAY
BY THE WAY, DAD USUALLY WORKED 6 DAYS A WEEK AND THIS WAS ONE OF HIS FAVORITE LESSONS ALSO
3.  THE LAST THING SHE GAVE US WAS UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
• AS MY WIFE JAN SAYS “THAT IS PRICELESS”
• SHE WAS ALWAYS INTERESTED IN WHAT WE WERE DOING
• SHE THOUGHT WE WERE THE BEST…I KNOW…BUT WE LOVED IT
• SHE WAS ALWAYS IN OUR CORNER
• SHE WAS OUR GREATEST CHEERLEADER…AND WITH 9 OF US THAT ALONE KEPT HER BUSY
• NO MATTER WHERE WE WENT…WE COULD ALWAYS COME HOME AND MOM WAS THERE WITH A SMILE ON HER FACE AND HAPPY TO SEE US
SO WE SAY TO MOM ON THIS DAY WHEN WE CELEBRATE HER LIFE’S WORK
• YOU ACCOMPLISHED  YOUR GOALS
• YOU ARE NOW IN HEAVEN, WE ARE SURE
• JOB WELL DONE
WE WILL MISS YOU…BUT NEVER FORGET YOU…WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU…YOU ARE THE BEST
Charles J. Roesslein

I did not have the pleasure of being born a Roesslein. However, I always felt that being a Roesslein was what I was meant to be.  The whole family was wonderful, but Grandma made it known that she was my Grandma and always made me feel I was a blood granddaughter.  I have more memories than I could ever get to fit here. I was very lucky that whenever we came to St. Louis we always stayed with Grandma.  That led to a lot of one on one time.  We baked cookies, made her German potato salad, wrapped presents and shared in a lot of laughter.  Since my moms family was so small I was thrilled to be part of such a large family.  I was blessed with Aunts and Uncles and a ton of cousins.  Nothing was better than when we were all together at Christmas.  You could see the joy and sparkle in Grandmas eyes as she looked around at all of us. I hope that she knew how much she was loved not just by me, but by the whole family.  She was truly and exceptional woman, mother, and grandmother.  I will forever miss her but her memory will live on forever in my heart and our memories.

John remembers his Mom by the fact that she was always working in her 
garden or cooking or canning.  He especially remembers walking home from 
school and smelling his Mom baking cookies from the top of the hill on 
Gerling street.

Jessica remembers Grandma as always having something for her at Easter 
and a beautiful Christmas ornament every Christmas.  She beleives she 
has enought to fill her own tree once she has one.

Ava remembers Grandma as always making them fresh squeezed orange juice 
to drink.

Both of the girls loved their Grandma dearly and remembers being with 
her in her garden and she would let them eat the berries that were 
growing there.

Mom has a special place in my heart.  She was a lovely person. Beautiful 
smile.  I remember her smiling and either tapping her head or pulling 
her hair and saying "Those dang kids", whenever they did something that 
amused her.  I remember having some in depth talks with her about faith 
and how, if you nurture it, it will grow at fantastic speed but if you 
neglect it, if only for a short time, it will also wither at fantastic 
speed.

Mom is greatly missed by us all and we know that we were extremely lucky 
to have her in our lives.  My Mom always told me to pray for great 
husband and to also pray for a wonderful mother-in-law because she said 
it would make all the difference in the world.  She was right (as 
always) and my prayers were answered as I received both a great husband 
and a wonderful mother-in-law (Mom).

Childhood Memories and Mom
 
 YooHoo! YooHoo! Vegetable Lady, YooHoo! You knew it was Saturday morning between 9:00 am  -  10:00 am. The two-tone blue Dodge DeSoto had backed up into the driveway with trunk wide open to display a variety of fresh picked vegetables and in-season fruit. Mom appeared through the dark green wooden screen door; she had been well into the third load of wash from downstairs. Then came the prized haggling back and forth between mom and the mid-to-late aged vegetable lady. We always enjoyed watching as mom would slowly whittle the price lower and lower. With a puff blue smoke and mom waving goodbye, the vegetable lady was off to her next customer. Left behind was a bushel of tomato's, a few pounds of fresh green beans, a hand-full of turnips, and some apples. Mom was smiling so I'm sure she came out ahead.
 We couldn't leave the yard until we were old enough to ride two wheel bikes. Then we weren't allowed to leave our street...then our block...then...well you get the picture. Mom was someone strict back then, as I recall. It started out as a simple wagon and tricycle circular ride around our Chinese Elm shade tree out back. Since we weren't allowed to leave the yard, our neighborhood friends would come over to our yard to play. By early summer we had the beginning of our own oval dirt track. As the race teams and competition grew, so did the ruts and dust. By late summer early fall our dirt track had two inches of standing dust. This upset David Lee's mom (our next door neighbor), since the dust would blow onto her clean cloths hanging out to dry. Mom and her had many a high pitched argument, until compromise was finally reached. David  Lee's mom was one of the first to own a cloths dryer in our neighborhood, and mom finally broke down and let us play beyond the confines of our backyard. With our new found freedom, came more adventures. First we settled on street long "Hide-and-Go-Seek" and neighborhood "Manhunt". Then came neighborhood ball games, mainly baseball, football, and basketball. As we grew so did our adventures. Day long hikes exploring the local creek, bike hikes as far as the airport and long as daylight would allow. By this time mom was so busy, she was satisfied with us telling her where and with whom we were going and when we would be back home. As I recall we were always home for dinner and then out again until dark. 
  Mom was constantly in motion in those days, it seemed like she never slept. I remember waking up to Rex Davis and the early morning news. The smell of bacon sizzling and coffee brewing. Dad was wrapping-up his early morning book work, before finishing breakfast and heading off to work. There was mom, her cheerful self, joking, laughing, fixing breakfast, school lunches, ironing school uniform shirts, making sure everyone had their school books, lunches, coats, gloves; before heading out the door to school.
  After arriving home from school, she was always eager to hear how our day went and what we did all day. Evenings were filled with mom cooking dinner, helping with our homework, folding clothes, and ironing. She wore  many an iron out in her day. I can't stand ironing myself, but she never seemed to complain. 
  Mom was always there for us. She guided us with loose reigns, never too strict, but filled with stories and lessons that never left us. Somehow she instilled in us a strong sense of right and wrong. To her, life was simple. Treat your neighbor as you would like to be treated. Be honest, lies only get you in trouble. Always do your best, and you will have no regrets. The best way to do something you don't want to do, is to jump in, get started, and before you know it , you will have it accomplished. Her faith could move mountains. She would always say - you can accomplish anything - all you have to have is a little faith. She truly believed this, and in many ways survived life's many challenges because of her strong faith. Her religion, faith in God, faith in her fellow-man, Faith in good over evil. She always seen the good in everything. Always took the side of the down-trodden over the high and mighty. Mom lived what many would believe an unbelievably hard life. Mom would never look at it that way, I believe she truly enjoyed her life. If you were to ask her she would  tell you she wouldn't have changed a thing.  
 
Mark

I was convinced when we were little that Grandma's house was full of surprises and adventures. I would always spend time looking through each room and uncovering what I considered to be little treasures. My favorite of these treasures were the red, green, and blue reading books she had saved from when Dad and his siblings were in school. 

Grandma and I would sit in her chair in the living room and read stories from these books every single time I came over. The stories never got old and I'm pretty sure it was because I was listening to her read them to me. 

Other memories with Grandma which I'm sure the other grandkids have are making cookies, Easter egg dying and hunts in the back yard, and the HUGE feasts she would make. I loved going to her house with everyone for meals. When the WHOLE family was over (all 30-40 of us) she was overjoyed to be creating delicious meals for us. The love in that house during those get togethers could have filled a football stadium and that I'm sure is what made her the most happy. 

Grandma, I owe my love of life and faith in God to you! You were an amazing example of what raising a family is and I thank you for showing me the power of love! You will be missed but you will always be in my heart!

All my love, 
Katie (Granddaughter)

For me, Ann was the epitome of selflessness.  Her children were her crown jewels, and she treated them with love and compassion, always. I felt honored, included and loved when I married into the family. She was guided in life by her love of God and her family.  What a fantastic role model she was for her entire family. We miss you, Ann, but I know you are smiling in heaven.

With love,
Jan

  I first met Ann when my daughter, Mary Jane was six years old.  I was nervous because I was not sure how she would react to me being divorced, with a child.  After we had been at her house for a couple of hours, she asked Mary Jane if she would like to have "Grandma" buy her an ice cream cone.  I fell in love with an at that very moment.  Maybe she knew something I didn't, but from then on, Mary Jane and I always felt like members of the family.  
    Over the years, she taught me how to can tomatoes, make pie crust, and make vats of German potato salad.  She also taught me the meaning of true courage and determination.
   I miss you dear Ann, more than you will ever know.

              Love,
                Jane

Anna Marie Roesslein
Mother, Grandmother, Friend, Sister, Aunt
SAINT
June 2, 2011
THE DAY GOD CALLED ANNA INTO
THE GATES OF HEAVEN

After months and months of hanging on, 
waking up to another rising sun
Life wasn’t easy, not one single
day yet prayers she said, every night
as down her head she lay
Nine wonderful children she raised,
but God alone she still praised
Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren galore,
her heart always open for more
Her girls and her boys were her whole life,
no matter how much stress, strain or strife
Now she’s in Heaven with her husband, Joe.
Most of us, sadly never got to know.
The man she loved, the man she missed.
In Heaven he’s been waiting to give her a kiss.
Forever at Peace, with no more pain.
Everyday sunshine, no more rain.
To the nine children she loved totally
and gave her life to remember everyday,
how much she loved you.

Grandma, I will always cherish my memories with you. You were always so sweet to me, even when you were sick. I can honestly say that you are the best person I have ever known. Thank you for the love you have given me, I will treasure my memories with you always. I will never forget the way you spoiled me when I was little. You would let me eat all the ice cream i wanted. I still cannot believe your gone. I know I will see you again someday, but until then, It is a comfort to me to know that you are with me all the time. I love you Grandma.
- Maegan

Richard, third eldest.
FROM MOM'S MASS CELEBRATION:
You just heard from the eldest son, now you'll here from Mom's favorite son...Richard
     TRANSLATED: MOM made all her kids feel special!!!

Mom always included us and extended the inclusion to our significant others:

My lovely wife Janie mentioned many times how Mom made her daughter, Mary Jane and her feel special and part of the family from their first encounter.

Mom spread her love, kindness and support over her extended family including her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Mom lived the life she yearned for as a young woman.

HER LIFE'S FOCUS:
   FAITH IN GOD & FAMILY

One of my memories of Mom as a small child:
It was a beautiful summer day in about 1953, I looked up from eating a handful of dirt and saw my Mother happliy singing and hanging another basket of clothes on the line.
   - Dr. Gray had assured her that it was perfectly alright for her children to eat dirt.

Motherhood was her life, her joy, her world and she was always beaming with radiance in her role.

Mom did not pamper us, one time after complaining about something, she told me "always be strong, everyone has a cross to carry, althouth people don't complain, they all have imperfections, problems and pain". In other words...SUCK IT UP.

OTHER QUOTES: "IT CAN ALWAYS BE WORSE"; "OFFER IT UP"; "IT'S HOT IN HELL TOO".

A FEW THOUGHTS FROM HER KIDS ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER HER PASSING:
   - Charles: She kept her family together.
   - Kathy: Mom handled every adversity that came her way, never surrendered.

LOVE, KINDNESS and ENDLESS DETERMINATION FUSED TO BECOME THE MOTHER WE LOVED.



 AFTER

Grandma I will always have a special place in my heart for you. Always remembering the way you treated me and the rest of your grandchildren. You loved all of us and made everyone feel special. Also, your kindness and generosity set a great example to me and everyone else around you on how we should live and treat others. I will never forget you and I will always love you.

Mark

You are in my thoughts always, especially when I sit quietly in the early morning when no one's up yet but me. You were simply the best! Always the mother, caring, supportive and loving. I will always miss you and remember you with a smile.
It's those simple things you did for me that always come to mind, ironing my clothes when I was in a hurry to go somewhere, making me something to eat, coming home from school looking for you to share my day with and finding you outside in the garden. You were  so positive and encouraging, thinking I was the best. You were always on my side, I never doubted it. 
I love you with all my heart and I miss you terribly. Because of you my faith is strong and I know I will see you again.
You were the greatest Mom ever!

Kathy


I am Jo Ann the oldest child and daughter.

These are some of my Mom memories ....

Mom always made our life special growing up, from schooldays to holidays and always wanted us to look our best for every event.  When I was younger she always made me finger curls.

We always had our lunches made with special care and even breakfast sandwiches which we ate after going to 
to Mass on schooldays.

The holidays were always made special...

Christmas - Santa did it all including the Christmas tree.

Easter - always had a bunny cake and easter baskets even into adulthood.

St. Nicholas - apples, oranges, nuts, etc. put in our stockings.

We had a big breakfast on Sundays ... each one of us got our eggs made to order.  Sunday dinner would be fried chicken, roast beef, German chocolate cake, banana creme pie and many more great home cooked meals.

There was also summer canning ... everything was grown or bought by the bushel and canned; tomatoes, green beans, peaches, apples and much more.

Later in life Mom and I were like girlfriends, we often had long conversations discussing everything.

Mom was always there for us, we were her life and were all loved very much.

Jo Ann

I am Mary Rose,the second of the three Roesslein daughters,and the one who always teased my other sisters about being "Mom's favorite." While I always new that Mom had no favorite,she loved each of her children equally,and without reservation; it was something I decided to keep to myself and play on as often as possible.
Today so many memories come flooding back as we remember Mom. I remember big Sunday breakfasts with everyone crowded around the table (while we waited to see who would be the first to spill a glass),the smell of homemade bread coming from her kitchen;and the time she took to create those special treats that meant so much to us as kids:cheeseburgers and malts (on Saturday after we went to confession). Mom's life was a testament to what family is all about.
Personally,I always marveled at how Mom could motivate and encourage you when you needed it most,I remember a time,while  i was in Nursing School that I was struggling with the courses,with the work load,and the pressure to succeed.I felt like giving up. Mom would quietely listen and the expess her confidence in me. If I truly wanted this,then I would succeed; and it was that confinence that she had in me that helped me do just that.
On the lighter side ,my brothers and sisters now have what we refer to as "Momisms." My favorite example goes something like this: Mom would go to the store and buy food for our school lunches, but my brothers, (who in their formative years were"eating machines,") would raid the lunch supplies frustrating Mom and invoking my favorite saying, "I don't know why I buy food all you kids do is eat it!" She would then scramble to make up for the missing items and we always went to school with our lunch.
Though times were sometimes tough, she was the Mom that we needed,the one who helped us find our way and to become the individuals we are today.
In closing I would like to leave you with this:
Mom was a woman of tremendous conviction;she never complained of what life sent her way,and she never judged other people. Mom was a teacher; she taught us love,faith,perseverance and a strong work ethic. She taught us self -reliance and she taught us to give of ourselves.
We will miss her in the garden,in the kitchen and in our lives;but we will never miss her in our hearts,for that is one place she will remain forever.
Thank you Mom for being who you were and for giving to your children the gift of each other- a loving devoted family.
Mary Rose

To the Roesslein Family,
The precious memories of family meals, long talks of plants, flowers and most importantly that great cup of coffee Mrs Roesslein always made... I will hold in my heart forever.
I love you all & will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

So sad.......

 

I never had a conversation with her that I did not feel her presence.  Not recognized in any awards or presented with acculades, she truly was a great women.  She was the quiet shepard of your family and produced a group of offsprings that could think, act, and contribute to society.  Far too often, people are judged by the initials at the end of their name or by other criteria that can not compare to what your mother accomplished.

 

When we are judged for your contribution to society, your mother will be at the front of the line for what she accomplished for your family.  I can not remember an angry tone she had with people.  At times, I can remember an assertive request to go home because she had prepared dinner.  Yet, she was kind, considerate, thoughtful, caring, and most of all, dedicated to her family.

 

She truly was a saint and now resides among them! 

 

Fred

Anna Marie-God's speed and rest in peace!



Floyd and Ruth Ann  Brown
Jill and Matt Seidel

Mark & Kathy - Our condolences to your family during this difficult time.

In memory of Dear Anna for the wonderful times we've had together shopping, enjoying lunches and visiting. Also, your generousity in sharing all those delicious tomatoes you grew.  Praying God's greatest blessings on your dear family.

Kathy, Tinki, JoAnne, Tommy & the rest of the Roesslein family.
Our deepest sympathies for the loss of your dear mother, Mrs. Roesslein. 
She was a sweetheart and left behind an incredible legacy within her children. Now she's gone to be a Bird in Paradise. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.

Mary,
Over the past 40 years that I have known you I was truly inspired by your mom's strength and determination to raise her beautiful family.  She was an amazing woman.  I am sure your dad was beaming with pride waiting to greet her.  You are all in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Tom,

Diana and I want to express our sincere condelences at your time of need.  We can only imagine how you feel, but we want you to remeber that Anna is in a better place and with everyone we know that has made the same journey.  You and your family will be in our thoughts and prayers.  

Dave & Diana Robertson

Tom and family, Don and I are So sorry to hear about your loss!  Your Mother was such an inspiring lady!  What a Blessing she is to all of you.  Love like that never ends!  May the Lord give you the strength, comfort and peace to find your way thru this difficult time.  Our thoughts and many prayers are with all of you!  XXX's

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Anna Marie Schmitz Roesslein

14 novembre 1920 – 2 juin 2011

Kriegshauser Mortuary-West Chapel

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