Rosalie Chase

WATERBURY - Rosalie (Gill) Chase died peacefully on Blush Hill, July 16, 2010.

Born in Baltimore, Md. on Sept. 4, 1917, Rosalie was the daughter of Rosalie (Price) Gill and Ernest Adams Gill. She attended Hannah More Academy, and then worked in stationery at Hutzler's Department Store. Rosalie took trips to Bermuda and Cuba and she loved dancing. After World War II began, she joined her brother Ernest at Bendix Aviation where she soldered wiring. During the war, she met Stanley Chase who was a sailor on leave, and in February of 1947, they were married. She drove her Plymouth to Vermont and made it halfway up Blush Hill before she had to be pulled out of the snow by Russ Lowe's horses. She and Stanley lived in the house they referred to as Shingle Shanty for the rest of their married life and raised their children there.

Though an Episcopalian, Rosalie was active in the Waterbury Congregational Church, teaching Sunday school, and working and laughing with the women of Circle Two for decades. She was an intrepid Girl Scout leader and camper, master of one-match fires built in the snow, and walked in many 4th of July parades. She was a Gray Lady (Red Cross volunteer) in local nursing homes. Rosalie was a member of the Waterbury Historical Society as well as the Vermont Historical Society, and a Friend of the Waterbury Public Library. In the late 60s/early 70s she worked in the kitchen at Waterbury Elementary School (at least one food fight).

She was an exuberant participant in all the Waterbury bicentennial activities from wearing high button shoes to the fire hose volleyball competition, complete with bathing suit and shower cap. Every Halloween she made popcorn balls and every Christmas, cookies for everyone she dealt with throughout the year. Harold Grout passed on plenty of happy birthday and anniversary wishes over WDEV "from the Chases".

Rosalie loved walks on the golf course (& finding golf balls), in the woods, and up the road. She knit countless mittens, hats and sweaters as well as her famous Christmas stockings still donning mantles today. Rosalie never refused a motorcycle ride.

She lost her father at a young age, loved her brother dearly, and brought her mother to Vermont to care for her at life's end. Rosalie was able to stay in her own home until recently, when she moved in with her daughter. She could still see her house and yard as well as the golf course from the porch and spent hours there doing just that. At the end, Hospice stepped in to provide the best of care.

Rosalie is survived by son David G. Chase and his wife, Marsha (79 Adams Ferry Rd., Panton VT 05491), daughter Carol Chase Hardy, her husband Bruce, and their daughter, Olivia (73 E. Bluff Rd., Ashland MA 01721), and daughter Jill G. Chase, her husband Yutaka Oiwa, and their daughter, Yuka (784 Blush Hill Rd., Waterbury VT 05676). She has one nephew, Peter Chase, of Rutland. Stanley Chase died in 1995.

The family would like to thank all of Rosalie's caregivers over the past year who treated her like the wonderful human being she was. The Hospice team was amazing and in lieu of flowers, we ask that any donations be made to: Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice, 600 Granger Road, Barre VT 05641 (www.cvhhh.org.).

A celebration of Rosalie Chase's life will be held at 1p.m., Friday, July 30th, at the Waterbury Congregational Church. To send on-line condolences please visit www.perkinsparker.com.