New Lebanon – Grace Rosekrans of New Lebanon, NY, and Melbourne Place, Pittsfield, MA, went peacefully home to be with her Lord on Friday, February 6, 2015, just one month shy of her 94th birthday. The daughter of Charles and Barbara Reimert Schaeffer, she was born and raised on the family farm in New Tripoli, PA.
Grace was a graduate of Slantington High School where, as a senior, she was voted class flower by her classmates. She was also a graduate of business school in Denver, CO. While in Denver she was employed by the Department of the Interior. She was a stay at home mom until her three daughters were teens, then worked for Ceramaseal in New Lebanon prior to beginning her 16 year career with the United States Postal Service in New Lebanon, the last 9½ years serving as Postmaster.
Grace enjoyed traveling near and far, especially with her family. She visited Switzerland twice, Italy, Mexico, Norway and its fjords and Canada. She experienced the great USA by bus and Alaska by cruise ship. She received an equal amount of joy daytripping near her beloved home, including the Berkshires and Vermont. Her other joys were observing the birds that flocked to her feeders and experiencing the beauty of her flower gardens and those of others. But, above all, her greatest love and joy was her family.
Grace was a member of the Lebanon Valley Garden Club and the New Lebanon Grange. She volunteered at the New Lebanon Public Library, Meals on Wheels and as a Brownie leader while her children were members.
Grace is pre-deceased by Edward, her husband of 45 years, her parents, her two brothers, Alfred and wife Mae and Paul and wife Lucy Schaeffer, and three sisters, Lillian and husband Raymond Snyder, Ann and husband Bill Betz and Alma and husband Herb Keimig.
She is survived by her three daughters, Norma and husband Bill Wadsworth, Margaret and husband Carl Heise and Jean Curtis, whose late husband John joined Grace in Heaven on February 8, seven grandchildren, Shannon Wadsworth with Jack Bulischeck, Sean Wadsworth with Rachel Hamilton, Carl and wife Megan Heise, Bryony and husband Jose Aviles, Kristi and husband Matt Downey, Mike and wife Tracy Curtis and Alison and husband Jeff Buckley, ten great-grandchildren, Joe and Holly Bulischeck, Verity and Gaius Wadsworth, Calghen and Vera Downey, Rylee, Mackenzie and Devon Curtis and Mason Buckley, and wonderful nieces and nephews.
It was Grace’s wish to be cremated, to forego calling hours and funeral services and for the burial to be private. The family will be gathering at her home to lovingly celebrate her life and the beautiful person she was.
Grace’s family wishes to express its profound, heartfelt gratitude for the incredibly compassionate care she received from her three wonderful private caregivers and the staffs of EPOCH at Melbourne and Hospice of the Berkshires.
Condolences may be sent to Hall & Higgins Funeral Home, 457 NY 43, Stephentown, NY, 12168. Those wishing to may make donations to Hospice of the Berkshires, the New Lebanon Public Library or the Salvation Army.