Rose Elaine Heckel

1922, the Great War was over and the country was healing. The 20’s were starting to roar. But born in 1922, little Rose experienced a beginning not so optimistic. The youngest of five and the family struggled. Her parents couldn’t keep her or didn’t want her which will never be known.

Rose spent the rest of the decade as a charity case in different foster homes which she didn’t remember fondly. Proper guidance, comfort and food wasn’t always the norm. The Great Depression hit and she never was yet given a toothbrush.

The beginning of a better story was when a grieving lady who had lost a son due to drowning was convinced to temporarily take in a little foster girl. Perhaps to help with her grief. So Rose finally found a loving home for a while. She was used to temporary.

It took awhile to get used to her new home. One day she was given 10¢ to go to bakery across the street to get a loaf of bread. Coming home she took a slice from the middle of the loaf and carefully resealed the bag. Her savvy new foster mother, Bertha Py, took her aside and lovingly told Rose she would never need to fear hunger again.

Temporary began to fade over the years as a little girl grew into high school, no longer an urchin but a young lady with manners. Some boys named Heckel, who were raised on Kelly’s Island during the depression, had moved to Sandusky, Ohio. Quentin was the middle brother and took Rose on a date involving an exciting motorcycle ride, perhaps a bit too exciting. Younger brother Roy entered the picture. He was the one.

Young adulthood had to move fast due to December 7, 1941. Like many young people during that time, Roy, already a soldier, and Rose married. Roy was shipped to South Asia until war’s end as a combat engineer. When he returned is when he met his son, Allan.

The family moved to Fremont, Ohio, where Roy eventually became a partner in a restaurant diner with an iconic 1950’s name, the Bean Pot. After a few years of hard work, Roy and Rose became full owners as the family grew. A second son, Laurence, and daughter Kathryn were added. After years of hard work, the restaurant was sold and the family moved to a 20 acre farm in the outskirts of Linsey, Ohio. Twin brothers, Richard and Robert, were added to the family. Roy became an employee of the H.J. Heinz Company where he was a well respected supervisor. When her youngest were in high school, Rose also became a Heinz employee as a micro-analyst. Both happily retired after many years of service and half a century of marriage.

After Roy passed, the family moved Rose to Holland, MI, so son Laurence and daughter Kate could help navigate her remaining years. Unfortunately tragedy struck when her first born son, Allan, passed away suddenly. Grief is not kind, even in the ninth decade of life.

Rose was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church where she made a number of new friends who she treasured during the last years of her life. They may be one of the reasons she made it into that tenth decade. That and the fact that she read every book she could get her hands on, from her youngest years until her last.

This short memoir can’t possibly relate all the ups, downs, happiness, tragedy, joy, pains, achievements, failures and laughter of a life well lived. Rose Heckel, abandoned, saved, and loved by many, forever humble and loving. Rose didn’t have a family but found one, made one, and loved all: Mother-Bertha Py, Husband-Roy Heckel, Sons-Allan, Laurence, Richard and Robert Heckel, Victor Young, and Billy Mitchell, Daughter-Kathryn Haaser, Daughters-in-Law-Marty Heckel, Pamela Heckel, Tamara Young, and Paula Heckel, Grandchildren - David Heckel, Wade and Jana Heckel, Amanda, Jason, and Jared Heckel, Blake and Tracy Young, Patrick and Kim Davis, and Sebastian Mitchell, Great Grandchildren-Connor, Brianna, Paige, Ian, Lex, and Daphnie Heckel, Aaron and Justin Young, Great-Great- Grandchildren – Eli and Jonah Davis. Special friends and helpers – Corinne Becker, Diane Hill, Lynda Parrett, Jan Earl, and Chloe.

A Celebration of Life for Rose will be held on Saturday, March 22 at 11:30 AM at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church - 3990 112th Ave, Holland, MI 49424.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Hospice of Holland or Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.