Rosanna Russ

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Biography

Rosanna was born in 18 Feb 1928. She passed away in 02 Jan 2002.

The following is information written by Rosanna's Granddaughter, Anna Markuson-Overman Allen in 2020. The photo (see in images) is of my grandmother, taken while she was at Mary Freebed hospital for polio.

"Tonight I was listening to my mother share memories of my grandmother, Rosanna, who is my namesake. (My middle name is Rose.) We talked about what life must have been like for her. Polio. The Great Depression. World War 2. I know my grandmother's life was hard. I didn't realize how hard until tonight when listening to my mother speak. She overcame many afflictions during her life. I think her story is remarkable. My grandma was born in 1928. As a young child she contracted polio, which affected her ability to walk. She spent years of her childhood at Mary Freebed Hospital in Grand Rapids, MI. While there, she contracted and survived tuberculosis, scarlet fever, and chicken pox. At one point she was in a coma for 6 months. She survived all this despite being born with a heart that was too small. At various other points in her young life she sustained other severe injuries and afflictions. She was inadvertently run over by the family car, resulting in leg injuries requiring surgical intervention. She was thrown from and trampled by a horse. She underwent three back surgeries for severe scoliosis, none of which helped her condition. After her discharge from Mary Freebed Hospital, she took on much of the care of her younger siblings after her parents' divorce. Together the family survived the Great Depression and World War 2. She would have also witnessed the Civil Rights and Women's Suffrage movements. Later she married my Grandpa Joe and had 4 children. My grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and passed away when I was a young child. My grandma took care of him for many years before he passed. Throughout her life, the scoliosis continued to worsen, making breathing more and more difficult. She was diagnosed with restrictive lung disease as a result, and passed away in 2002 when I was 16 years old. I remember hearing that my aunt had to whisper that it was ok to go before my grandma would let out her final breath. She epitomized the word fighter. Her spirit is carried on by all of the feisty women in my family. She is a testament to the strength of women everywhere."

Sources

• Personal Recollection