Rosemarie "Rosie" Lee's Obituary
It is with profound love and sadness that we announce the recent passing of our mother, Rosemarie “Rosie” Lee. She was an expectant great-grandmother, beloved grandmother, mother, and faithful wife during her incredible 69 years of life. She passed away peacefully in the late hours of Tuesday, March 31, 2026, and entered immediately into her Lord’s presence.
She married the love of her life, U.S. Navy serviceman Bertrand Dean Lee, on January 4th, 1975. Together, they shared their life with one another in their 51 years of marriage. Our Dad would remind us constantly how, while he was in the service, away at sea for many months, she was home, raising their then three small children. She adored her husband, was his biggest fan, followed him wherever he went, and he was her life. Their nicknames for one another, “Watson” and “Hun,” will be missed, as a day didn’t go by that you didn’t hear one of them. Dad stood by her side throughout her life, lived out his marriage vows to her, held her up when she couldn’t stand, made her laugh when she needed to smile, and held her closely, even in her last moments on this earth. Mom and Dad had something incredibly fulfilling. It was like the world stood still when they were together. I am blessed to have witnessed such a beautiful example of a God-honoring marriage.
For Mom, life was about family, and she was passionate about it. If you had the immense privilege of having her in your life, then I’m sure you felt this passion at some point or another. She was there to help you however she could. She had ears ready to listen. Her laugh was contagious, poking fun when we could to get her going, after all, we didn’t want to be on her “list,” you’ll have to ask Jimmy and Maggie about that one. When Gabriella told her she was going to be a great-grandma come September, her response was “I’ve always dreamed of this in my head” with the biggest smile on her face. When she learned the baby was a girl, she told me, “You have to let this baby girl know, she comes from a line of strong Italian women. I said, “I will Mom.”
She spent countless hours with her sister Cheri, as they searched their family's roots through countless libraries, multiple ancestry websites, visits to their brother Wally’s, and late-night phone calls. She was proud of her Italian heritage and the hard work of finding where her mother’s family came from. She left us a legacy. Her Italian heritage flowed into our holidays, where we would spend hours making homemade sauce, meatballs, and Italian potatoes. Her grandchildren would stand next to her in their aprons and using stools until they were tall enough to reach the giant bowl of meat on their own, would cling to her directions like she was the only person in the room. Always watching her, knowing full well that no one will ever make it like she did. It wasn’t the taste, it was her. Mom was also known for her love of tie-dye. Nine times out of ten, she was wearing one clothing item of MANY that were completely tie-dyed. Shirts, dresses, slippers, crocs, she had it all (along with the worn-out slippers and socks that were only halfway on her feet).”
She was a force of nature—equal parts love, stubbornness, and sarcasm. She had an uncanny ability to know when we were lying, even over the phone. She raised us with a mix of tough love, lots of humor, and the occasional quote, “because I said so.“ She taught us how to stand up for ourselves, how to laugh when things went sideways, and how not to dress when leaving the house. Mom was more than a parent—she was our confidant, our cheerleader, and our safe place. She had a gift for making everyone feel seen and valued, whether through her warm smile, her listening ear, or the countless meals she lovingly prepared. Mom, your love shaped who we are, and your memory will guide us always. We will carry you in our hearts until we meet again.
Preceded in death by her parents, Walter & Marguerite Jones, and sister, Cheri Gerhart. She is survived by her sweetheart and husband of 51 years, Bertrand D. Lee (72). Son, Bertrand J. Lee (50); 2 granddaughters, Maria Bella Lee (14), Stella Lee (14), and 1 grandson, Owen Lee (11). Son, Jason M. Lee (49). Daughter, Cheri A. Lee (48). Daughter Nicole M. Rodriguez (44, Lee) and husband Timothy Rodriguez; 1 granddaughter, Gabriella R. Frens (21, Rodriguez) and husband Gavin Frens, 1 great granddaughter (due September), 1 grandson, Necoh D. Rodriguez (20). Brother, Walter Jones and wife, Marva Jones. Also, numerous beloved in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, and closest friend, Debbie Norris.
We encourage you to share thoughts, photos, and memories with our family at the following memorial website:
https://app.bluebutterfly.com/memorial/v2/rosemarie-lee
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