Barbara Gettig DeRose was born in Washington, PA. She was the youngest of five children born to Roxie and Donald Gettig.
Barb graduated from the Washington Hospital School of Nursing in 1953. She married Charles N. DeRose in December of that year and began her life as an Army wife and accompanied Chuck to several overseas duty stations when the boys were small. They were stationed in Guam in the 1950s and Chinon, France in the 1960s. They had three sons, each five years apart. And Barb was a single parent for much of the time when Chuck was in Korea and Vietnam. They returned to the US in 1966 and settled in West Springfield until 2016, when they moved into Greenspring Village.
Barb was a beloved sister, wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and friend. She will be remembered as the life or the party, the center of all things. Barb was adept at adapting. She rose to every challenge with grace and/or humor. And as we all grew up and moved on, her prizes were her grandchildren. She loved each and every one of them with all her being.
She was a nurse for many many years and then with Chuck, founded a small business, manufacturing and selling outdoor furniture and decor. They closed this business after ten years only to form Monarch Travel & Cruises and this kept them both quite busy with work and travel. They had the opportunity to travel to the ends of the earth and back, and enjoyed every minute! And she absolutely loved sending couples off on honeymoons.
She was very active with the Women’s Association of Northern Virginia, serving in several board positions. And she was involved in a SALSA Small Business Networking Group and her Investment Group. She played Mah Jongg every Monday with a regular group of friends. Barb had started to really enjoy living at Greenspring Village. She was going out to Aerobic Water Exercise weekly, Bingo and Dances every other Friday. On Mother’s day she was able to see all of the family.
She is survived by her three sons Craig (Andi), Mark (Deirdre) and Eric (Cressie), and grandchildren Christopher, Mara, Jessica, Nicholas, Courtney and Sean, and her sister Ruth Pearson, and a multitude of nephews and nieces. She is predeceased by her brothers, Donald (Don) and Richard (Dick), her sister Alice Jane (Jay), and her parents, Roxie and Donald Gettig.
Barb, Mom, MeMa, Mimi, we will miss you!
A visitation will be held Friday, June 22 from 4 to 7 pm at Demaine Funeral Home, 5308 Backlick Road, Springfield, VA 22151
Her memorial service and burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
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