Rosemary Fassberger

Rosemary Fassberger, age 77, a resident of Roscoe, New York, died July 2, 2013 at the Roscoe Regional Rehab. and Residential Health Care Facility from complications arising from Alzheimer's disease.

Rosemary was born on April 16th, 1936, to the late Howard and Annabelle Lake. She was a graduate of Roscoe Central School. She married George Fassberger in 1955 and they spent most of their married life in Roscoe.

Rosemary grew up in a large family in a large house in Cooks Falls, New York. Even up to the last months of her life, she had many happy memories of growing up there, recalling bygone days of swimming in the river, her beloved Dad's delicious cooking, making homemade ice cream to be shared by many, and the countless convivial feasts around the long dining room table.

Rosemary had many and varied interests throughout her life. Always a natural athlete, she was an avid and talented golfer. She also became an enthusiastic and knowledgeable gardener, and had been a member of the Roscoe Garden Club. Her perennial gardens were lovely and she spent much time nurturing them. Rosemary worked for years at the Roscoe Nursing Home and after retirement was a member of the nursing home board. She was always involved in many community volunteer activities, and had also been a long-ago Cub Scout den mother and a member of the Roscoe Hose Company Ladies' Auxiliary.

Books were another interest; Rosemary liked to read and was a vocal advocate of the Roscoe Free Library. She had been a long-time and involved member of the Roscoe United Church as well. She had an excellent singing voice and especially enjoyed her time in the church choir. Her musical tastes were wide-ranging, from country/western and jazz to classical and opera. She also appreciated excursions, both near and far, to see plays and musicals. She dabbled in oil paints as a hobby, and was a great fan of the Hudson River School of painting, particularly the works of Thomas Cole. In addition, Rosemary was a good dancer and taught at least one grand-daughter how to do the Jitterbug. Finally, it must be mentioned that Rosemary made the world's best-ever rice pudding!

Rosemary is survived by her four children, Joanna (and son-in-law Eric), Mary, Donald (and daughter-in-law Jacqueline) and Fred, as well as three beautiful grandchildren, Martha, Emily, and Lucien. She had many siblings and is survived by sisters Dorothy Pherriego, Virginia Wakeman, Barbara Cromie, Alice Meyers, Sharon Keene, Carol Gerow, and brothers William, Donald, and Thomas Lake, as well as many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by husband George Fassberger and sister Joyce Bury. Not to be forgotten is Rosemary's little dog Zoey, her beloved canine companion of many years, who died in 2012.

Visitation will be Friday, July 5, 2013 from 11AM -1PM in the Harris Funeral Home Railroad Ave. Roscoe, NY.

Funeral services will be at 1 PM in the funeral home. The Rev. Joann Utley will officiate.

Burial will be in the Riverview Cemetery, Roscoe, NY.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Alzheimer's Association by sponsoring Fred Fassberger, running with Athletes to End Alzheimer's in this year's New York City Marathon: http://wndfo.net/fredalz.

A heart-felt thank you to all the staff of the Roscoe Nursing Home who did so much to care for Rosemary in her last months of life.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Harris Funeral Home, Railroad Ave., Roscoe, NY 607-498-4929 or 845-439-5200 or Harris-FH com