Roswitha R. Bland

Rose was born on March 5, 1943, in Graz, Austria, the last of 12 children born to Josef and Katharina Horak. She graduated high school at 14, got married at 17, and raised two children, sometimes single-handedly during her husband's military deployments. She sold Tupperware and Avon for several years and worked for over 27 years as a food service worker for several schools and a nursing home.

Rose loved cooking, knitting, crocheting, and crafts of all kinds. She loved family activities and enjoyed the outdoors, especially hiking, camping, and traveling with their RV. One of her favorite volunteer activities was to serve the seniors of Auburndale breakfast on Friday mornings, which she and her husband, Bill, did for over three years until the program was closed due to Covid. Once she and her husband, Bill, moved to the Estates at Carpenters in 2022, they regularly volunteered to support numerous activities. A devout Christian, she was an active parishioner at Saint Anthony's Catholic Church. She was a wonderful daughter, wife, mother, and friend to all, and a faithful servant of the Lord.

Rose is survived by her loving husband of over 66 years, William ("Bill") Bland, her two children, William Bland and his wife Jennifer, and Patricia ("Patti") Harre; her cherished grandchildren, Nicole Mahon, Michael Harre, and Justin Bland; her five blessed great grandchildren, Elly and Sady Harre and Rose, Leo, and Mira Bland; and her brother Victor Horak. Rose is preceded in death by her parents, Josef and Katharina Horak, her brother Werner Horak, and her sisters, Anastasia Recker, Josephine Perez, Ingeborg Manz, and Nellie Horak.

A Memorial Service will be held for Rose on Friday, October 23, 2026, at 11:00 AM in the chapel at the Estates at Carpenters. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Rose's memory to the American Cancer Society.