Published April 5, 2019
MELROSE — Laila Raabe Rosseland, “Lee,” 96, died peacefully in her sleep on March 30, 2019. Until she had a major stroke two weeks earlier, she was a vital and vibrant person who, despite becoming increasingly blind in recent years, remained active, engaged and passionate about many things, including playing bridge and other games, following sports (especially the Red Sox and golf), keeping up with family and friends, her church communities, gardening and current events. A life-long learner and avid reader, she was smart, open-minded and fun-loving. Her indomitable spirit of adventure and determination made her ever interested in exploring new subjects and willing to try new things, including the iPad she got for her 90th birthday. She didn’t want to miss anything and seldom did.
Lee was always thinking of ways to show kindness to others, giving freely of herself (and her macaroons). She loved her children and their spouses, adored her grandchildren and felt deeply blessed to have two great-grandchildren born into the family last year.
Born in East Orange, N.J., Lee was an alumna of Kent Place in Summit, N.J. and a 1944 graduate of Wheaton College in Mass. For many years she taught students with learning disabilities at Kingsley School in Boston. She was a tireless volunteer, and often a leader, in community, church, choral, and theater groups wherever she lived. She was a member of Melrose Highlands Congregational Church for over 60 years and of the Brooksby Village Protestant Community for the last 19 years.
She was predeceased by her husband of 66 years, Frederick M. Rosseland, Jr. and her parents, Edwin O. and Laila G. Raabe. She was the beloved mother of Susan Farnsworth of Hallowell, Maine; Carol Rosseland and husband John Egan, of Melrose; Jill Rice and husband Robert Rice, of Bristol, Maine; grandmother of Katherine Rotio and husband Anthony Rotio, of Bloomfield, N.J. and of Molly Egan and husband John Westergaard, of Columbus, Ohio; great-grandmother of Laila Rotio and Olive Westergaard; and much-loved “Aunt Laila” to several nephews and nieces. Also survived by her extended family at Camp Wulamat in Bristol, N.H. and by Stephen Mirundi, whom she regarded as a son.
A memorial service will be held at the Melrose Highlands Congregational Church in Melrose on Saturday, April 13 at 2 p.m. and a celebration of life reception will be held at Brooksby Village in Peabody on Sunday afternoon, April 14. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the “Brooksby Village Benevolent Fund”, c/o Brooksby Village, Gift Planning Dept., 200 Brooksby Village Drive, Peabody, MA 01960.
