Rosmarie Elisabeth Birkhauser Ellingson, age 85, passed away peacefully on April 11, 2016. Friends often referred to her as Rosie, but to us she was mom and grandma, and she will be greatly missed by all of us. Mom was blessed to have lived an active, healthy life, and there was great love within the family for her.

Rosmarie was born July 17, 1930 in Fresno, California. Soon after, her parents returned to their homeland in Basil, Switzerland, where she spent several of her early years. Her dad, a geologist, brought the family back to the United States and settled in San Marino where Rosmarie and her sister Ursula were raised. In 1947 she graduated from South Pasadena High School. She then attended UCLA where she was a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority and graduated with a teaching degree. In 1953 she married Glenn Ellingson, a young engineer working for Standard Oil, and started a family. The early family years were spent in the California cities of Novato, Whittier, and Taft, before setting down long-term roots in San Rafael, California in 1965. It is here where she would stay for the next 51 years. Although Rosmarie had many interests in her life, it was raising her boys, which was dearest to her. She was active in all aspects of her children's lives, as they grew up through the local school system, all graduating from San Rafael High School in the 70s. Later in life she was blessed with numerous grandchildren who kept her busy, and she cherished each one of them as they brought her great joy and fulfillment.

She was also very active with a variety of organizations in Marin County. Notable among her activities were the many years she spent as a volunteer at Marin General Hospital, and working with the young displaced children being brought into the United States from Southeast Asia and Haiti. But her affection was greatest for her "four-legged" friends found at Guide Dogs for the Blind. Rosmarie worked for many years helping to socialize these dogs, and even brought home several of the "breeders" to live among her extended family of dogs, cats, and birds. Later in her years she would also return to the schoolroom, working as an elementary grade teacher aide. She found great satisfaction in this work, as it returned her to her early calling in life as a kindergarten teacher. Her work in this area was recognized by the organization Marin Advocates for Children, who named her one of their "Heroes for Children" in 2011.

Rosmarie is now reunited with her husband Glenn, and her parents, Max and Elsy. She is survived by sons, Eric, Michael, and Mark; her sister Ursula (SPHS '50); and grandchildren, Christian, Nicole, Heather, Jessica, and David. She will be terribly missed by those that loved her, and remembered as a caring and gentle soul. She was the "glue" for our family, and now we carry on in her memory, and with all that she has taught us over the years.

San Gabriel Valley Tribune, April 22, 2016