Birth Date: 02/25/1941
Deceased Date: 10/28/2023
Princeton – Marilee Jane Rose, known to her friends as Molly, passed away peacefully on Saturday October 28, 2023 at the SECU Hospice House in Smithfield, NC. She was 82 years old. Molly and her twin sister, Sally, were born in Douglas County, NE on February 25, 1941 to J. Arthur Nelson and Irene Schlicting Nelson. In addition to her father and mother, she is preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Rose, Lt. Cdr. Ret., USN, and her sister Kay Nelson Keppel.
As a Girl Scout Leader when her kids were young, Molly’s favorite song was “Make New Friends, But Keep the Old” and she embodied that philosophy whole heartedly. Making new friends whenever the Navy relocated her family was always top priority and Molly was very involved in the local chapter of her sorority, Beta Sigma Phi, neighborhood welcome committees, and church groups at each new location. Molly loved to throw parties and her house was always lively with the sounds of laughter and conversation. After the death of her husband, Molly moved to South Dakota and continued to make new friends, eventually joining a chapter of the Red Hat Society which would remain a big part of her life until her death. Molly also indulged her love of travel and would frequently make cross country journeys to visit her children, grandchildren, friends, and family along the way.
Molly is survived by her daughters Debbie Norris and her husband David of Fayetteville, NC and Beth Meyer and her husband Jim of Alameda, CA; and her son Justin Rose and his wife Nixaliz. She is also survived by her seven grandchildren, Virginia Norris, Ian Rose, Sam Meyer, Charlie Norris, Ash Meyer, Lya Rose, and Alli Meyer; her sisters Rosalie Blomquist, Suzanne VanDusen, and Sally Froese; mother-in-law Ilene Rose; brothers-in-law Jerry Rose and his wife Rose, Harold Rose and his wife Evelyn; and sister-in-law Judy Rowe and her husband Wayne.
The family will receive visitors at Rains Crossroads Freewill Baptist Church on Friday Nov. 10, 2023 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. A funeral service will follow in the church at 2:00 PM with the burial immediately after. Donations in Molly’s honor may be made to the American Cancer Society, Girl Scouts of America, or NEXT for Autism.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family at Parrishfh.com
