Claudia Joy Roselle, age 89, passed away peacefully Tuesday, February 27, 2018 at Wesley Lea Hill Rehabilitation Center in Auburn surrounded by her loving family. She was born May 30, 1928 in Auburn, to Claude and Winifred Jones-Fielding. Claudia was quite the social butterfly making many friends around the world.
She grew up in Kent, moved to Salinas California for a while and graduated at Kent High. Mom partied with the amazing Kent High Classes of 45ers and 46ers who laughed, danced and traveled together for decades. We bet she was greeted by many of them at the gates when she arrived.
Claudia married her love Bob in 1950, at Millstream Blueberry Farm in Kent, and raised their family in the Kent Valley. Their home was surrounded by many farms owned by first generation Japanese Americans that employed the Roselle children for many summers, which in turn made their summers very, very, very long. She was active in the Kent Historical Society, not far from where her father Claude was a butcher. She was an educator, and spent her career in the Kent School District teaching reading at Kent Elementary School. She retired from the School District in the early 1980’s after over 30 years of dedicated service to the youth of Kent.
After Bob passed away, Claudia moved to Wesley Lea Hill where she was a founding resident. Claudia was the crown jewel of her family, the best friend to many of us and oh how she loved her red lipstick and wine. She was a beautiful class act, and big supporter of Guide Dogs for the Blind as her family has raised over 15 puppies for the visually impaired. Her family would like to thank the incredible and loving staff and neighbors from Lea Hill, the 10 plus years that she resided there enriched her life. We would like to express our gratitude to the Wesley Lea Hill Rehabilitation Center care team who were wonderful, patient and devoted. We thank them for their hard work and kindness over the last 2 weeks.
She is survived by her children Kent (Darlene) Roselle of Goodyear, AZ, Robin (Howard) Hirshman of Lake Kathleen, WA, Dave (Stephanie) Roselle of Covington, WA and Laura (Dave) Jones of Puyallup, WA; nine grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren and numerous other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Bob in 2005.
Friends and family are invited to a Celebration of Claudia’s Life on Saturday April 7 at 2pm at the Kent Senior Center. Remembrances may be made to the Guide Dogs for the Blind, PO Box 3950, San Rafael, CA 94912-3950 or online.
