Rosalie Whitchurch

Rosalie Marie (Sprinkle) Whitchurch, age 88, formerly of Ludlow Falls, Miami County, OH, passed into eternity on Monday evening, October 1, 2012, at Belle Manor Nursing Home in New Carlisle.

Born on June 20, 1924, in Chicago, IL to the late Everett and Nellie (Cassidy) Sprinkle, Rosalie will be remembered as a quiet individual that contributed to the world by faithfully devoting herself to her family. Rosalie was a retired licensed practical nurse who loved her church, caring for her home, and celebrating Christmas and family birthdays. Throughout her life she treasured fine linens and beautiful books and loved remembering a very special vacation to Alaska.

Rosalie was married to her late husband, Charles Laymon Whitchurch for fifty-eight years and they resided in Washington State, Colorado, Nevada, California, Arkansas, Wyoming, Michigan, Delaware, Georgia, Texas, and Ohio. Together they raised three children: sons, David (Pamela) Whitchurch, Englewood, OH; Darrell (Victoria) Whitchurch, Gatlinburg, TN; and daughter, Diana (Bob) Fessler, New Carlisle, OH. She was also the proud grandmother of eleven grandchildren: Teri Belt (Ken Bell), Brookville, OH; Kim (Todd) Fergus, Lewisburg, OH; Lori (Steve) Smith, Springboro, OH; Christian (Kathleen) Whitchurch, Alexandria, VA; Nathan (Linda) Whitchurch, Baton Rouge, LA; Angela (Jim) King, Bellefontaine, OH; Aaron (Kimber) Fessler, Mendham, NJ: Anne-Marie (Ryan) Cox, Wheaton, IL; Andrew (Sheryl) Fessler, Waynesville, OH; Elizabeth (James) Hardwick, Baltimore, MD; and Olivia (Jason) Braaten, Woodstock, CT.

She was blessed to be the great-grandmother of Alexis and Anna Shockey, Brookville; Abbey, Emma and Claire, Fergus, Lewisburg, OH; Ian and Kaylee Smith, Springboro, OH; Jared, Kaylee, Timothy and William Fessler, Mendham, NJ; Ella and Matthew Cox of Wheaton, IL; David, Jacob and Lauren Fessler, Waynesville, OH; Liliana Hardwick, Baltimore, MD; and Nora and Arkin Braaten, Woodstock, CT. She was especially close to Grace, Caleb, and Sarah King of Bellefontaine, and she would have loved the soon to be born children of Christian (Kathleen) Whitchurch, VA, and of Aaron (Kimber) Fessler, NJ.

The exquisite penmanship of her many cards and letters, her thoughtfulness and spirit of generosity as well as her delicious cheesecakes and fried potatoes will be missed; but most of all, her presence will be missed. Although there are no words to ease the sorrow of death, there is solace in remembering of her gift of love and affection. Her precious life will long remain in the hearts and minds of all who knew her and the world is a richer place for Rosalie Whitchurch having been in it; she will be truly missed.

Rosalie is survived by two sisters-in-law: Marie Rosebrook of Arvada, CO and Esther Mae Salzmann of Aurora, CO; and two brothers-in-law: Elmer (Gloria) Whitchurch, Jacksonville, FL, and Bernard (Doris) Whitchurch, Westminister, CO. She was also preceded in death by daughter-in-law, Patricia (Darrell) Whitchurch, Gatlinburg, TN, and grandson Andreas "Andy" Belt, Brookville, OH.

Visitation will be Friday, October 5, 2012, from 9:30 until 10:30 at Transfiguration Catholic Church in West Milton followed by A Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30. Graveside services will follow at Riverside Cemetery in West Milton.