AUGUSTA – Ernestine Gordon (Knight) Rosell, “Dene”, 95, of Granite Hill, Hallowell, formerly of Saco, passed peacefully in the early morning hours of Wednesday Oct. 19, 2016, at the Gray Birch (Maine General Rehab and Long Term Care Center).
She was born Feb. 9, 1921, in Saco, a daughter and one of four children of Leon and Ella (Gordon) Knight.
She was a 1939 graduate of Thornton Academy. At the beginning of WWII, she met and married US Army MP, Harry Olaf Rosell, of Stockholm, Sweden and Brighton, Mass. They corresponded for three long years while he served overseas. Though they later divorced, they were the proud parents of four children: identical twins, (Karl and Eric), Kurt and Elin.
In addition to being a homemaker, she enjoyed her 16 years of employment in retail sales for women’s fashion at Ward Brothers in the Maine Mall. Throughout her lifetime of raising a family, she volunteered for the March of Dimes, AHA and the American Cancer Society. “Dene” will be remembered for her sharp wit, strong-willed character, her love of a good lobster roll and the fresh ocean air. She often remarked that “for 84 years, I’ve lived in Saco and raised my family at OOB.”
She is loved by her surviving children: Karl Rosell and his partner Patricia Rodrigue Cunningham of Manchester, Kurt Rosell and his wife, Rhonda Wiles-Rosell of Farmington and Belgrade Lakes and Elin Rosell-Raff and her partner J. Terry Christopher of Wappingers Falls, NY; a daughter-in-law, Susan Harris Rosell of Winthrop: 7 grandchildren: Jason Raff, Caroline Brackett, Erin Harrington, Dana Rosell, Keith Rosell, Kevin Rosell and Adam Emery Wiles-Rosell and 7 great-grandchildren, Jolene, Noelle and Jack Brackett, Kaylee and Landon Raff, Kyle Rosell and Kory Rosell, several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by a son, Eric Rosell; a brother, Linwood Knight and sisters Ruth Knight and Esther Knight-Willey.
Family and friends are invited to call at the Wiles Remembrance Center, 137 Farmington Falls Rd., (Rtes. 2 & 27) Farmington Sunday afternoon Oct. 23 from 2-3 PM with funeral services at 3 pm, followed by a reception at the Center. All are welcome. Committal services will be held Monday Oct. 24 at 11 AM from the Laurel Hill Cemetery, Saco. If possible, in remembrance of Dene, please wear a piece of turquoise jewelry or clothing.
Remembrance gifts may be given to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for Pancreatic Cancer Research 450 Brookline Ave. Boston, MA. 02215.
Tributes and condolences may be shared on her memorial wall where a video tribute will also be able to be shared at www.wilesrc.com.
So sorry for your family’s loss.