Rosanna was born in Camden, New Jersey, during the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, the deadliest in history. That virus infected an estimated 500 million people worldwide—about one-third of the planet’s population—and killed an estimated 20 million to 50 million victims, including some 675,000 Americans. Rosanna related to me (Pamela Bechtold) that she did contract the virus as a baby, and was told that she was sick for a year wherein she lay very still in her crib, too sick to cry or move, but surviving. During that period, her body must have developed a very hefty immune system, because she remained strong and pretty healthy the rest of her very long life of 102 and a half years! Coincidentally, she died during another world-wide pandemic going on now, the COVID-19, and did not die with that, either, nor even contract it.
Rosanna said that she never requested that people call her Rosie, but they just naturally seemed to do that, so most folks knew her as “Rosie”. Rosie’s parents were Rose Horlacher Hubert and Julius L. Hubert, who were also the parents of Rosie’s two brothers, William and George (both predeceased Rosie). When her father died, Rosie’s maternal aunt and uncle, Anna and “Hobe” Hallowell, who lived next door, looked out for Rosie’s family. Rosie was apparently named for her mother and her aunt, (Rose + Anna = Rosanna). When Rosie’s mother died in 1933, Rosanna moved next door to live with her aunt and uncle and their daughter. Rosie’s brother, William, had a son, George Hubert (Rosie’s nephew whom she called “Georgie,”) who along with his wife, Carol, survive Rosie. She is also survived by George and Carol’s children: George, Jr. (Angela, deceased), Carolyn (James Foreman) and their three children, Jake, Conner, and Cole; Kate (Jason MacFerren) and their son, Matthew.
As a young woman, Rosie was very detail oriented; she listed her work experience as eight years, nine months, and two days. She graduated from high school in Camden, then went to work in business. She learned short hand in school, which served her very well in her working career. Her additional training was at the Yeoman Services School (Naval Training Station, Cedar Falls, Iowa) for eight weeks. All of her work history is listed in detail in her personal papers. Her longest and most loved work was in the U. S. Navy WAVES notably in World War II. She served from 3/12/43 to 12/3/45 in the Hydrographic Office in Washington, D.C.; the Naval Air Priorities Office in Hawaii 7/4/1945 - 12/3/1945 (a very prestigious position, as secretary to L. Osborne, Commander USN Administrator). She served 3/1948 - 3/1/1949 in the Office of the Commandant, 12th Naval District in San Francisco; and her last service was 4/9/1949 - 1/8/1954 at the Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois. Rosie lists her total military service as eight years, five months, and 4 days! She chose to have a military funeral and to be buried in full Navy uniform (which she saved all these years in pristine condition) and to be buried at Ft. Logan Cemetery right next to her husband, Bob.
During her Naval tour of duty in Hawaii, Rosie met the love of her life, Robert B. Gravely. “It was love at first sight,” she often said. On September 4, 1954, they married, and lived “happily ever after” in Denver, Colorado. Though they were inseparable for more than 60 years, they did not have any children. But in the course of his cartography/draftsman career, Bob met and befriended
Gayle D. Bechtold, a geophysicist who worked with Bob in the oil and gas industry. Bob knew a good, trustworthy man when he saw one, and asked Gayle and his wife, Pam, to step in and look after Rosie and himself when assistance would become necessary. Gayle consented, so he and Pam became family to the Gravelys, caring for them as their own parents until the very end.
Bob and Rosie were “Pioneers” of WindCrest, being some of the very first to move in there. They had an apartment on the 6th floor of Cottonwood, with a beautiful view of the Rocky Mountains. When they could no longer live independently, both Bob and Rosie lived (and died) at MillVista, assisted by wonderful, caring staff to whom Gayle and Pam send many heartfelt thanks.
Rosie will have a graveside, military service at Ft. Logan September 28, 2020, noon.
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