Rosalind Jessee Wade's Obituary
Rosalind (Roz) Jessee Wade, a cherished wife, mother, grandmother, and friend passed away peacefully on October 2, 2024, at the age of 71. Born on December 1, 1952, Roz lived a life filled with love, compassion, and dedication to her family. Roz is survived by her devoted husband, Wes Wade, her beloved son, Wesley Adam Wade, and her beloved daughter, Tiffany Lynn Wade. Additionally, Roz had immense love and admiration for her two grandchildren, Jessica Chabot and Scott Wade. Roz was the oldest sister of two siblings. Her sister, Marianne Santistevan, departed us in 2022, and she is survived by her brother, Randy Jessee. Her family was the center of her world, and she took great pride in their accomplishments. Roz’s warmth and kindness touched the lives of everyone who knew her, and she will be deeply missed by all.
Roz was born in Hempstead, New York, to Beth and Howard Jessee. Howard was in the United States Air Force and retired in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where Roz was raised. She graduated from Sandia High School where she met her husband, Wes. They married in 1973 and quickly learned how to be a military spouse as they were stationed in Dexheim, Germany and El Paso, Texas. When Wes separated from the United States Army and joined the New Mexico National Guard, they moved back to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where they lived until 1987. Roz and Wes sought out better opportunities in their occupations and moved to Richardson, Texas. Roz worked in retail for JCPenney for many years, but she found true passion in her work when she started in new career at the Royal Insurance Agency, which was later absorbed by the Travelers insurance company. She was a hard-working employee and highly regarded by both management and her peers. After 50 years in the workforce, she retired in 2018. In retirement, Roz enjoyed working in her yard, traveling, bowling, and spending quality time with Wes at home
She was committed to Wes her entire adult life and the two of them were great partners that loved each other unconditionally. She was always involved and supported her children’s activities and motivated them to be successful people. Both of her children completed college and have thriving careers. Roz was devoted to her grandchildren, always sharing her wisdom, and excited to watch them grow into great people. She was a close friend to many and it was important to her to be in the hearts and lives of her friends. She loved her family and friends “to the moon and back.
She loved working in the yard and had a beautiful garden. Roz had a great passion for music, dancing, and of course the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley! She loved bowling and had a great time no matter how well she or her team was bowling. For her, bowling was about making friends. Roz was a gifted seamstress that made clothes, blankets, and handbags. She enjoyed being made up, hair, nails, and face makeup, so she could be a “glam-ma” (glamorous grandma). Roz was a great chef that could whip up a multi-course meal with any number of scraps in the kitchen. She loved conversation, meaningful conversation, not just small talk. If she called you on the phone, you knew you had to block off an hour for the conversation. She made it a point to talk to almost everyone she encountered, cashiers, waiters, patrons in stores, etc., and if you wore a name tag, she called you by your name. Roz was not only generous with her time, but also with giving people a “hand up” as she called it. When people in front of her at the grocery store could not afford to pay for their groceries, she would step in and pay for their food. She had a kind heart and soul.
A memorial service will be held in Dallas, Texas for her friends, and at a later date, a service for her family will be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Details to be announced by the family. Her final resting place will be in the Santa Fe National Cemetery in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Roz’s legacy of love and generosity will continue to inspire those who were fortunate enough to know her. Roz’s spirit will forever remain in the hearts of her family and friends. She will be remembered for her unwavering love, her positive nature, and the joy she brought into the lives of those around her.
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