Bessie was born in Monroe, Michigan on May 30, 1919, the youngest of four daughters born to Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Jesse Hart Root and Wilhelmina (Finzel) Root. Reminiscing about the idyllic days of her childhood, Bessie recalled her father building a family cottage at Detroit Beach on Lake Erie in the early 1920s. Each summer when school was out, her parents closed the house in town moving the family to the two story cottage for the summer. "Those were golden fun days for all of us," she said.
After graduating from Monroe High School in June, 1937, Bessie was accepted to the University of Michigan where in the fall of 1938 she met her future husband Roger W. Ridley who sat next to her in a German class. They married on June 1, 1942. She often said that they "had no money, he was going to college on a shoestring but we enjoyed hiking, watching birds and visiting mutual friends".
In June, 1941, the University of Michigan awarded Bessie a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Zoology and a minor in Botany. After graduation, she was accepted into a Medical Technology training program at Eloise Hospital in Wayne County Michigan. Following her training at Eloise, Bessie was employed by the University of Pennsylvania Graduate Hospital in Philadelphia and was assigned to start their first blood bank. Conveniently, husband Roger was doing his medical internship at the same hospital.
Bessie, expecting her first child, returned to the Root family home in Monroe at the end of 1943 while Roger served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps.
After the war, Bessie and Roger moved to Rochester, Minnesota where he practiced at the Mayo Clinic from 1948 - 1955 when they moved to Riverside where he practiced locally for more than 30 years.
Meanwhile, Bessie put her career on hold serving as a stay-at-home mom caring for their five children, caring for their home and pursuing her various interests. She was a skilled fisher, a dedicated ornithologist, a skilled wood carver, a voracious reader, and a skilled seamstress who loved to travel whether to see the world or to visit family and friends here in the U.S. or abroad.
After her children were grown, Bessie returned to work in the medical laboratory at Riverside Community Hospital.
Bessie remained quite active well into her 90s and beyond. She passed her last driver's license exam well into the early 2000s. When her hip went bad, she had the wisdom to give up driving fearing that her driving ability was compromised.
Bessie lived in her current home for more than 50 years during which it became the focal point of her extensive family. Birthdays, holidays and other family events were almost always celebrated at grandma’s house.
A grandchild commented "My kids were so lucky to know their great grandma and could always count on their GG to play a game of checkers, read a book or just snuggle. Grandma always sent notes or called to let me know she was thinking of me”.
Bessie is survived by four of her five children; sons Roger H. and wife Christine of Nipomo, Alan and wife Yumiko of Chula Vista, Robert and wife Tessi of San Gabriel; and daughter Susan Casanova and husband Bill of Racine, Wisconsin as well as by her son-in-law Eric Ziegler, 17 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, 7 great-great grandchildren and by numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. One more great grandchild is expected in July.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years Dr. Roger W. Ridley, her oldest child Judith Ann Ziegler, sisters Miriam Thompson, Ruth Tuttle, Lucille Tuttle and by several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Bessie was a wonderful person. She treated everyone she met with love, kindness, generosity and respect; she was well liked and well respected by all who knew her. Her family and friends loved her dearly and will miss her greatly. May she rest in the peace of God’s loving arms.
Viewing will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at Acheson & Graham Garden of Prayer Mortuary, 7944 Magnolia, Riverside.
Memorial service will be 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at the First United Methodist Church of Riverside, 4845 Brockton Avenue. Riverside National Cemetery graveside services will be private.
Bessie's family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the American Association of University Women (AAUW); University of Michigan; First United Methodist Church of Riverside; Leukemia and Lymphoma Society; or charity of your choice.
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