As received from the O’Neill-Dennis Funeral Home. If you have questions about, or potential corrections to the content, please contact the funeral home directly.
Rosalie Jean Townsend passed away on April 26, 2025 at Our Lady of Mercy Health and Rehab after a long battle with dementia. She was 79 years old.
Rosalie was born to Carole (Quasius) and Raymond Destrampe October 3, 1945 in Hancock Michigan. She grew up in Ripley and attended Hancock Public Schools.
She was united in marriage to John Townsend on November 17, 1967, spending almost 58 years of marriage together. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a surprise party given by their daughter Carrie at the Hancock American Legion with family and friends, several attending from downstate Michigan, Wisconsin, Washington and Louisiana.
Rose worked as a CNA at Cypress Manor and Houghton County and then at Suomi College for many years. She received a degree from Suomi College while working full time there and while taking care of her family and home graduating with honors. She then became the accountant for the family business Townsend Refrigeration for many years until John’s retirement.
She was an avid reader; she loved true crime books especially. She was accomplished in sewing, knitting and crocheting making beautiful afghans for many family members and friends. Rose loved to find antique furniture that was painted and restored them. There are pieces of her beautiful work still in their home. Rose also had a green thumb and had gardens for many years; she canned and froze the bounty for her family to enjoy year around. Her chow chow was like no other. She loved to cook and bake, her homemade bread and rolls were delicious. She loved bingo, the Michigan lottery and going to casinos which she was very lucky at all three!
She also loved to fish spending the summers on Lake Superior on their boat with John, Carrie, family and friends fishing for lake trout and at many fishing holes throughout the area, more often than not she out fished us all. She loved camping and always made sure the family was stocked with enough food for the week that could actually last a month! Her very favorite pastime was spending hours being a rock hound, combing beaches and streams all over the U.P. She had a knack for finding beautiful large agates.
She loved her family fiercely and helped care for her mother, father and mother-in-law, bringing them meals, to doctor appointments, shopping, bingo and visiting with them frequently making sure their needs were always met.
Rose was preceded in death by her parents, maternal grandparents Bert and Rosalie Quasius, paternal grandparents Charles and Josephine Destrampe, father and mother-in-law Addis and Anna Townsend, brothers Dennis and Keith Destrampe, brothers-in-law Jim, Bruce and Paul Townsend, sisters-in law Lea Ann Townsend, Carol ”CJ” Townsend and Gloria Destrampe, nephew David Townsend and great niece Breanne Townsend and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
She is survived by her loving husband John Townsend, daughter Carole Lynn (Carrie) Derifield and son-in-law Michael, brother David Destrampe, brother-in-law Rick Townsend, sister-in-law Anne Marie Blom (Rick), 4 step-grandchildren, Missy Kaiser (Aaron), Chris Derifield (Cheryl), Michael Derifield and Amy Nichols, 9 step-great grandchildren and 5 step-great great grandchildren, nephews Steve (Mary) Townsend, Frank (Barb) Townsend, Brian Townsend, Dan (Anitra) Townsend, Michael Townsend and Lee (Sarah) Townsend, nieces Regina Rose (Rodney) Crosby, Nicole (Jeremy) Olach and many great and great great nephews and nieces, cousins, her special long-time friends Mary Lepisto, Richard and Laura Kolehmainen and Ken and Brigitte Savela and also her beloved kitty Oliver.
The family would like to thank Our Lady of Mercy Staff for their loving care of Rosie. A huge thank you to her brother David and Carrie’s long-time friends, Candy Gertcher, Tammy Parmentier and Cindy Phytila for helping with Rose’s care while she was still living at home. Your compassion, care and love for her meant the world to John and Carrie.
Although she’ll be so missed by her family and friends, the Long Goodbye is finally over. Rest peacefully Mommy, you’re now free. Love Eternal.
There will be a graveside service at Lakeside Cemetery in Hancock on August 16th at 1:00 pm. A celebration of Rose’s life will follow at the Townsend residence at 25190 S. Oneco Road in between Tamarack City and US 41 towards Calumet following the graveside service.
The O’Neill-Dennis Funeral Home in Hancock is assisting with the arrangements. To leave online condolences, please go to www.oneilldennisfh.com.
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