Rosemarie (Rosie) Draelos passed away peacefully beside her daughter, Stephanie, on Sunday, October 15th. Battling Alzheimer's dementia for several years, the Lord took her home to His Glory. Born Rosemarie Holenweg in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1932 to immigrant parents from Herzogenbuchsee, Switzerland, she grew up in Milwaukee with her sister Betty, ultimately earning a bachelor's degree in nursing at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where she met her husband, Theodore Draelos, a surgical resident at the same university. After moving to Dugway, UT, in 1960, then to Silver City, NM, in 1963, she raised 4 children, worked as a nurse in the public school system and earned a Master's degree in guidance and counseling while her husband practiced general surgery.
With an adventurous spirit and servant heart, she found her primary joy in raising her children. She was an avid bridge player, enjoyed painting, arts and crafts, music, singing in the First United Methodist church choir, piano, and outdoor activities, including tennis, hiking, snow skiing and sledding, most enjoyed with friends and family. Upon the untimely death of her husband in 1987, she established the Theodore Draelos Memorial Scholarship at Silver High School, providing nearly 60 young high school men and women scholar athletes with financial support towards college expenses since inception. In 1992, she moved to Albuquerque, NM, to be closer to her son, Tim, and daughter, Stephanie, and their families, where she delighted in helping to raise her grandchildren. An active member of St. Stephen's United Methodist church, she enjoyed singing and volunteer work until her later years. She moved to New Orleans in 2012 to be closer to Stephanie and her family, and she became active in the Metairie Baptist church.
She will be remembered for her love of God, cheerful spirit, industry, wit and humor, generosity, and kindness for all. A beacon of light to those who knew her, her Christlike spirit shone brightly, guiding and inspiring her children and grandchildren to better the world as God had gifted them. Her tenderness, caring, meekness, and, especially, her laughter will be greatly missed. To those she touched, her flame will not again light in this world, but shine eternally in Heaven.
She is survived by her sister, Betty Schumm, and her husband Brooke of Ellicot City, MD; daughter Stephanie Lonsberry and her husband Wes Lonsberry, of New Orleans, their children Kristin, Garrett and Alex; son Timothy Draelos and his wife Laura of Albuquerque, NM, their children Callie Poboril, Jennifer McKee and Lara; son Matthew Draelos of Edmond, OK, his children Mitchell, Preston and Julia; son Michael Draelos and his wife Zoe, of High Point, NC, their children Mark and Matthew.
Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the visitation on Saturday, October 21, 2017 at Metairie Baptist Church, 401 Codifer Blvd, Metairie, LA from 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM with funeral services following. Garden of Memories Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Information 504 833-3786.
Contributions can be made to the Ted and Rosie Draelos Memorial Scholarship with checks made out to Silver Consolidated Schools, noting Rosie Draelos in the memo line, and sent to the following address, with a request for a receipt, if desired.
Administration
Silver Consolidated Schools
2810 N. Swan St.
Silver City, NM 88061

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