Rosa Gaylord Obituary (1920 - 2010)

WINTHROP - Rosa M. Gaylord, 90, died Sunday, Oct. 3, 2010, at the AHCH Hospice House in Auburn with her family by her side. Rosa was born in Winthrop on Jan. 9, 1920, the daughter of Hilaire M. and Josephine (Fortier) Bruneau. She grew up in Winthrop and graduated from Winthrop High School in 1938. She worked at the family store, Bruneau's Market, for several years. On July 11, 1941, she married Leonard E. Gaylord. They lived for more than a year in Merced, Calif., where Leonard was stationed in the Army Air Force. Rosa moved home to Winthrop to wait for his return from the war, and they remained there after his return and raised their family. Rosa enjoyed gardening, knitting and sewing for her family, and playing cards, especially bridge. Her greatest love was her family. She spent as much time as she could with her grandchildren, enjoying their company and attending all their sporting events and other activities. She was affectionately known to her family and friends as 'Meme.' She was member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, the Catholic Women's Club, the Daughters of Isabella and the American Legion Women's Auxiliary. She also was a member of Club 31, where she enjoyed playing cards and socializing. She was predeceased by her parents, husband, brothers Wilfred and Richard Bruneau, sister Elnora DeBlois, and granddaughter Stephanie Webber. She is survived by her son, James Gaylord, and wife, Donna, of Wells; two daughters, Cheryl Webber and her husband, Ed, of Wayne and Celeste Gaylord and her partner, Amy Hughes, of Winthrop; brother Arthur 'Pete' Bruneau of Augusta; sister Ruth Libby of Portland; grandchildren Jeffrey Gaylord and his wife, Pam, of Land O' Lakes, Fla., Jennifer Gaylord of Wells, Jason Gaylord of Colorado Springs, Colo., Joshua Haefele and his wife, Alison, of Portland, Chad Haefele and his wife, Kate, of Winthrop, and Kayla Haefele of Phoenix, Ariz., Ike Peppard and his wife, Dana, of Pittston and Hannah Peppard of Richmond; and four great-grandchildren, Presley Walker, Beckett and Bella Haefele, and Gianni Haefele. The entire family would like to express sincere thanks to Celeste and Amy for the loving care they provided Mom in their home during her last years. The family also would also like to express deep gratitude to the staff at the Hospice House for the care and kindness it provided Rosa during the last days of her life. Family and friends are invited to gather in celebration of Rosa's life from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 7, at Roberts Funeral Home, 62 Bowdoin St., Winthrop. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 8, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Winthrop. Burial will follow in Glenside Cemetery, Winthrop. The family requests that memorial donations be made in Rosa's memory to the AHCH Hospice House, 236 Stetson Road, Auburn, ME 04210. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.khrfuneralhomes.com.