In the early morning hours of Sunday, November 3rd, 2024, the gates of Heaven opened wide to welcome home our beautiful mother, Rose. 100 years earlier, Rose was born on March 24th, 1924, to Anton and Effie (Brzykcy) Wosick in the small farming community of Minto, North Dakota. Born 3rd into a family of 9, Rose was the oldest daughter.

Rose spent her life carving a path that reflected the unwavering spirit and indomitable will of the Greatest Generation she was born into. Her life was marked by dedication to her family, her community and her country. Daughter, sister, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend, patriot. Beautiful, stylish, amazing, to be admired.

Rose was all of these people. Her story is as colorful and vibrant as was her wardrobe.

She grew up on the family farm and graduated from Minto High School in the spring of 1942. At a very young age Rose learned the meaning of hard work.

No sector of American life was free from the inescapable influence of what took place in those years from 1924 through 1945. Everyone felt the impact of the financial crisis of 1929, the despair of the Great Depression, the hope inspired by the election of FDR and his New Deal, and then once again the fear that seeped into the hearts of Americans as Germany began occupying Europe in 1939 beginning with Poland, Rose's home country.

This was a generation forced into extreme poverty during the Great Depression at a time where there was no safety net for the unemployed. Coming of age during this time meant you appreciated the little things and made sacrifices we couldn't fathom today.

Rose dedicated a chapter of her life to the WWII war effort. After Pearl Harbor it  was the women who stepped up to support the men on the front lines ensuring the success of the war. Trading dresses for dungarees America's women assumed their patriotic duty. The country hummed as these mobilized factories and shipyards churned out essential munitions, planes, tanks, jeeps and ships.

By the time World War II ended, more than 6 million women had taken wartime jobs in factories producing 300,000 airplanes, more than 100,000 tanks and self-propelled guns, 88,000 warships, 370,000 artillery pieces, 47 million tons of artillery ammunition and 44 billion rounds of small-arms ammunition. It was the Rosie's that kept America running.

Time magazine called America's wartime production "a miracle. The miracle that would not have happened without "Rosie the Riveter." Every Rosie became part of America's story.

Rose was one of those Rosies.

Rose Ann Everson-Wright, a powerful force of nature, was a beacon of hope and inspiration.  She was welcoming and open, making all who entered her front door feel comfortable and at home.

On January 10th of 1947, she married the love of her life, Walker Everson, and together they built a loving family of four children, ten grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandchildren, all of whom survive her. Rose also welcomed Walker's 5-year-old daughter, Beverly into her home and embraced the role of mother on her first day of marriage.

Rose projected her warmth both with her friends and her large extended family. She was a pillar of hospitality, always ready to welcome family, friends and strangers alike into her home with a warm smile, a pot of coffee, and refreshments, combining her remarkable homemaker skills with her passion for cooking and baking.

This led to our home being a gathering point for all with every holiday being fully decorated and celebrated. Rose was an exceptional conversationalist and made every guest feel cared for and valued. There was always room for one more at the table.

In her younger years, she found pleasure in the strategic games of curling and  bowling. She was an avid card player, especially loving to play bridge, pinochle and cribbage with Walker.

She loved gardening, especially roses, and was always in search of the perfect plant for the next planter. Rose served as president of both the garden club and the homemakers club and said many times how much she had learned from the many women who belonged.

Rose resided in Mesa for 46 years.  After retirement in Arizona Rose spent her time mastering the art of ceramics and learning to play her Lowrey Organ. At the age of 96 Rose recorded her's and Walker's favorite songs on the organ, complete with the story of their life together narrated by Rose with voice overs.

In her role as the matriarch of the Brzykcy/Wosick/Everson family, she became the aunt every niece or nephew could depend on. Rose was a letter writer, and because of her amazing memory she became the family historian, not just for her immediate family but the families of every one of her siblings and often the families who had all gone ahead.

Mention one of her aunts or uncles and she could tell you who they married, how many children including names, who the children married, where they lived, always tied together by some interesting and colorful story. Rose's dad, Anton was 1 of 22, her mom, Effie was 1 of 11 and Walker's dad, Alfred was 1 of 11. Rose knew them ALL. Every detail.

Rose was also a community volunteer whenever there was a need. And for the last 25 years of her life Rose became a benefactor of the Christ the King School, sharing her resources she had been blessed with to help the children.

Rose loved her family deeply and fiercely, embracing life with every fiber of her being, forever determined to live it to the fullest. She loved attending dance recitals, birthday parties and sports events.

And she loved baseball. Walker was a die hard Yankees fan and passed that passion on to Rose. In 2001, Walker James (Rose's son) made a lifelong dream come true. He took her to watch game 4  of the World Series here in Arizona. It was the Yankees playing  the Diamondbacks. Rose cheered her hardest but the Diamondbacks prevailed and won the World Series that year. But she sure had fun.

An adventurer at heart, Rose found joy in the open road traveling with her husband, Walker and logging 1000's of miles across both America and Canada for the entire 45 years they were married. Together, they reveled in the thrill of traveling the two-lane highways of both countries. It was the people they met and the places they experienced together that created a lifetime of memories. After Walker's passing in 1992, a heartbroken yet resilient Rose made a decision to continue to live life with that same courageous spirit.

In December of 1996 Rose married Alvin Wright. Rose and Al also shared a mutual  love of travel and family and enjoyed visiting Rose's and Al's children and her many siblings. Their companionship lasted until Al's passing in 2005.

Then Rose joined Widows and Widowers, known as WOW," and along with her new friends, traveled once again. Road trips, cruises and local day trips.

Rose's legacy of kindness and her open-heartedness will be profoundly missed and forever cherished by her family, friends, and all who had the pleasure of knowing her and being welcomed into her home and her heart.

Her gift with people was effortless , and her wisdom and compassion offered solace and guidance to all who sought it. (She mourned with every family member and many friends as they laid their loved ones to rest. Rose truly was the last to join the rest in heaven.

We take comfort in knowing Rose is now reunited with her beloved husband Walker, and believe, through faith, that we will see her again.

Her legacy is intertwined with those who have preceded her: her devoted husband, Willis Walker Everson and baby son, Allister Everson;

her loving parents, Anton and Effie Wosick, and in-laws, Alfred and Elva Everson;

8 siblings beginning with Ray (Adeline) Wosick, Henry (Angeline) Wosick, Irene (Gerald) Salter, Thomas (Ellie) Wosick, James (Thelma) Wosick, Charles Wosick, Anton Wosick, and Lucille (Gunder) Gunhus; and brothers-in-law, Calvin and Allister Everson, and her sister-in-law, Kay (Calvin) Everson.

Rose was also preceded in death by her wonderful 2nd husband, Alvin Freddie Wright, and step-son and daughter; and sons-in-law, Darvin ( Joan) LeRoy Krenning, Anton (Jan) Janosec, and David (Beverly) Dale. And dozens of aunts, uncles and cousins that are way too numerous to mention.

As we bid farewell to Rose Ann Everson-Wright, we celebrate an extraordinary life well-lived. A life that exemplified the courage of the greatest generation, the tenacity of a woman not willing to settle for the status quo, and an unyielding passion to live a life just a little on the edge.

Left with decades of wonderful memories are her four children, Judy (Tom) Stennes of Park Rapids, Minnesota, Walker (Dianne) Everson  of Tempe, Arizona, Joan Krenning of Mesa, Arizona, and Jan (Lynn) Peterson, of Great Bend, Kansas; step-daughter Beverly McCanna of Henderson, Nevada; 10 cherished grandchildren; Stacy (Mike) Schlieman, Kim (Glen) Patteson, DeAnn (Eric) Carson, Nicole (Graham) Gould, Tonia (Scott) Tinker, Matthew Krenning, Ryan Krenning, Hunter (Emily) Peterson, Dakota (Austin) Woods, Kallie (Brett) McCue; 3 step-grandchildren, Scott (Ruth) Bachmeier, Greg (Louise Nation) McCanna, and Cheryl (Scott Gibbs) McCanna; 13 great-grandchildren, Kyle Schlieman, Kayla Schlieman, Joaquin Patteson, Olivia Carson, Jameson Carson, Charlotte Gould, Evelyn Gould,  Drake Tinker, Grace Tinker, Logan Krenning, Kaycee Peterson, Elliott Peterson, and Tate Peterson; and step-granddaughter Heidi Bachmeier; sister-in-laws Mary Lou (Charles) Wosick and Bonnie (Tony) Wosick; 1st cousins Carl Brzykcy, Donna (John) Brzykcy Katzer and Betty (Jim) Byzykcy Gregware; 24 nieces and nephews and her many wonderful friends.

She loved people and touched the lives of everyone she met. She will forever be remembered as a true legend who lived a life spanning 100 years.

In the words of Laurie Jorde, " Rose was the shining example of what it means to be a lady."

Rose's love and laughter will echo in our hearts forever.

All who knew Rose are invited to join us in celebrating this incredibly one-of-a-kind, remarkable woman of courage whose big heart was sourced by her faith. I can hear her now, in the distance. "WhoHoo! What a ride!"

If you would like the family to keep you apprised of celebration details, please e-mail your contact info to ladyroaddog@gmail.com

To commemorate Rose please join us in celebrating a life well-lived on Friday, December 27th at 11:15 at Christ the King Church located at 1551 East Dana Avenue, Mesa, AZ 85204.

You are welcome to arrive at 10:30 am.

Rose would appreciate that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the following:

Christ the King Catholic School
https://ctk-catholicschool.org/

National WWII Memorial in New Orleans in memory of her brothers Ray and Henry Wosick and the many others who served during WWII. Rose was a charter member of the museum.
https://support.nationalww2museum.org/

Please sign the family's online guestbook at bulmanmiles.com

Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming. "Woo Hoo, what a ride!" ~ Rose Wosick Everson-Wright

Family is being assisted by Bulman Miles Funeral Services Globe