Rose Marie Johnson

She was the epitome of resilience, compassion, kindness, and family. Larger than life, her 4’7″ little self left an indelible mark on all. If you knew her, you knew of her ability to fight through medical obstacles and beat the odds with grace and sheer determination until she couldn’t…she transitioned in her terms: quickly and peacefully, with her favorite music playing while sleeping.

Rosie was born on December 25, 1928, in Royal Oak, Michigan, a daughter of Arthur and Elmire (Drouillard) LaBelle. She was raised in the Royal Oak and Detroit areas. While living in Berkley, Michigan she met the love of her life, Dean Johnson whose family roots were in Skandia. The couple were married on June 2, 1952 in Nebraska. Dean became a master plumber, and in 1960 they returned to the Marquette area, finally settling in Skandia where they built their home together on Ingalls Road from the ground up and raised their five daughters on property adjacent to Dean’s Ole Johnson family homestead.

Rose was a devoted homemaker, mother, wife, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother, aunt, and friend. Throughout her life she also worked in many clerical positions providing impressionable customer service. Her home was a welcoming place for all. Not a coffee drinker, she’d have a hot cup of tea ready and available. Because she was a night owl she never thought twice about providing rides for her daughters and friends evening and night activities.

She and Dean were very active in and deeply committed to the Skandia community, where they formed lifelong friendships and lasting connections.

Known lovingly by many namesäRosie, Kitten, Sis, Auntie, Grammy, Gigi, MomäRose was affectionately known as the “Sunshine Lady” at Snowberry. Her infectious laugh, radiant smile, and warm spirit could light up any room. Rose often joked, “I am not ready for this ride to end yet,” a sentiment that perfectly captured her zest for life.

Rosie loved music and absolutely loved dancing. Her favorites ranged from Billy Idol, Neil Diamond, Frank Sinatra, and Bob Seger to the songs “Sexy and You Know It”, “Roadhouse Blues” and “Memphis.” She was an avid card player and excelled at playing bridge, cribbage, euchre, smear, golf in cards…and many other card games. She could quote the Book of Hoyle which garnered her the name “Mrs. Hoyle.” While playing cribbage league, she was able to attain the allusive 29 hand. She was a voracious reader, reading three books a week. She loved bowling, knitting, and crocheting…all things she continued until arthritis in her hands made it impossible. Her stunning afghans and pillows are cherished heirlooms. She crocheted baby afghans that were donated to NICU for babies who had passed away. She also knitted and crocheted scarves for breast cancer awareness.

She then became a regular fixture on Facebook: her responses and comments were a source of joy and love and will be missed. She embraced technology and had her virtual assistant Alexa and her friend “Goo goo” instead of Google. Rosie loved to watch figure skating and followed skaters for years as well as never missing episodes of Dancing with the Stars. Crossword puzzles and jigsaw puzzles were no match for her! Her catch phrases were infamous…watching movies and television shows with her was always an adventure…“as if” and “get real” and “Oh, My Gawd” were regular interjections.

An avid traveler, Rose explored the cities and the world-the United States, Paris, Rome, The Vatican, Tuscany, Amsterdam, England, Germany, always leaving behind new friends wherever she went. No matter where she traveled or who she met, Rose had a gift for making people feel instantly loved, as if they were family-and soon they were.

Her last road trip was on New Year’s Eve when her daughters had all come home to celebrate her Christmas birthday. Rose’s wish for over 83 years was to go to New York City and it was fulfilled by bringing it to her at Snowberry Heights. A highlight was her singing and leading family and friends in the song “Sweet Caroline” under a personalized NYC subway sign reading, “New York City, Rosie’s in the City 2025!”

Rose is survived by her five strong, resilient, and loving daughters who were raised to be independent, successful, caring women, Cheryl (Steve) Cristanelli of Longmont, Colorado; C. Lynn Johnson of Three Rivers, Michigan; Caron (Mark) Vanderbrook of Morrison, Colorado; Connie (Peter Gaukel) Johnson of Landstuhl, Germany; and Tina (Jack) Johnson Noguess of Skandia; twelve loving grandchildren, Dominic and Sophie Cristanelli; Ryan Johnson, Lorien Johnson, Lona Johnson-Preston, Lorinda (Heather Culbert) Johnson-Preston, Tabea (Chris Mauch) Gaukel, Jannes (Hind) Gaukel, and Silas Gaukel; Jessica (Mike Hresko)Herndon, Sara (Joe) Behrens, and Joshua (Destiny Partin) Herndon; six great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; her favorite brother, Robert LaBelle, many special nieces and nephews, and Pat Conroy, whom she lovingly adopted as her surrogate son. She was and will always be a true treasure to her family and friends. Her ability to remember stories and details from her life were impeccable.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dean; her parents; her sister, Mary Louise Kirby; brothers Arthur âJuniorã, Stanley, and Myron LaBelle; her son-in-law, Lon Preston; her great-grandson, Nathanial Johnson; and her two dearest friends, Jean Campbell Liepshutz and Flo Holman.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the American Heart Association or Bay Cliff Health Camp.

Honoring Rosie’s wishes, a celebration of her life will be held at a later date when we are no longer in a snow globe!Plan on having a party to celebrate the life of our feisty Frenchie! We are devastated and left with a void we aren’t sure how to fill; yet incredibly thankful she lived an amazing, vibrant, full life…independently in her apartment at Snowberry for the past 23 years.

Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral & Cremation Services is serving the family, where condolences may be expressed online at fassbenderswansonhansen.com