Obituary of Roberta B. Rossetter

Roberta B. Rossetter Obituary

Roberta B. Rossetter, age 88, formerly of St. Charles, Illinois, died November 12, 2018 at Sunrise at River Road in Tucson, AZ.  She spent the last week of her life with her family around her reminiscing and playing and singing her favorite songs. 

Roberta (Birdie) was born to Robert and Margaret Whitaker on November 19, 1929 in Kenosha, Wisconsin.  Early schooling at Kemper Hall in Kenosha was followed by Garrison Forest School in Maryland and Briarcliff College in New York.  Birdie married Thomas Rossetter of Lake Forest, Illinois in June, 1950. They moved to St. Charles shortly after the birth of their second child in 1953.

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Birdie served Garrison Forest School as a Trustee in the late ‘60s, and served the Fox Valley as a member of the St. Charles Library Board. 

Avid fishermen, hikers, and skiers, Birdie and her husband, Tom retired to Jackson Hole, Wyoming in 1984.  During their thirty some years in the valley, they embraced the Jackson Hole community and outdoor lifestyle.  Birdie served on the Teton County Library Foundation Board and on the Board of the Teton Science School as well as the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole. She was particularly proud of her performances in the “one-fly” trout fishing contests and her ability to show Tom and her children where the big fish were.

Her compassionate, loving persona touched many lives from all over the country. Mrs. Rossetter was an inspiration to many Fox Valley youth, and expanded that role to include the young Teton Valley people she encountered in the mountains or on the trout stream.

Birdie is survived by her daughter, Jebb Cuthbert (Chris) of Charlottesville, VA, two sons, David Rossetter (Pam) of Tucson, AZ, Stephen Rossetter (Laura) of Frisco, CO, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.  She is predeceased by her husband, Thomas B. Rossetter and her eldest son, Robert B. Rossetter.

The Rossetter family is grateful to the wonderful caregivers who helped keep Birdie comfortable during her final years in Wilson and Tucson.

Birdie will be buried next to her beloved husband, Tom, and her eldest son, Bobby at Union Cemetery in St. Charles. A Memorial Celebration of Birdie’s life will be held in Wilson, Wyoming in the Spring, 2019. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Birdie Rossetter may be made to the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole. Condolences and comments can be made at www.bringfuneralhome.com.