Rosamond Louise Gutesha

A Mother's Love Rosamond Louise Gutesha 1/22/1923 to 7/26/2007 Our dear Mom, Rosamond Louise Gutesha was born in Big Rock, Illinois on January 22, 1923. She grew up on a farm in Hinckley, Illinois and she cherished her rural upbringing with its strong Mid-western values. She shared stories of her parents and winter sleigh rides, lighting candles on the Christmas tree, marketing eggs and produce with her mother, and her love of farm animals. She also had an artistic side and in her youth and into her early 30's she played first violin with both the DeKalb and Aurora, Illinois Symphony Orchestras. Rosamond had a great love for cooking, gardening and crafts born of her years on the farm. Her talent in the kitchen was legend and resulted in her catering many large family and neighborhood gatherings. She and her husband along with his sister owned and operated the Mil-Rose Café in DeKallb, Illinois. She later enjoyed a long career as manager of food service at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. There she lived with her husband Joe and two sons, Michael and Freddie. She was a very devoted mother. Although working full time and sometimes two jobs she never missed one of Freddie and Michael's many athletic events from Little League to college. She saw to it that her strong work ethic and Mid-western values were instilled in her two boys. Son Michael remembers a time when as a child while shopping with his mother he took a notebook from a store without paying for it. When she discovered it upon arrival at home she made him go right back to the store with her, return it and apologize to the manager. She taught her sons to respect others and to treat them with kindness. Through the years she cherished her family above all else and delighted in her son Freddie's three children Heidi, Jarod and Christy. Rosamond was a country girl at heart with down-home roots but an adventurous spirit. That spirit of adventure took her on many travels, including cross country drives alone to visit her Aunt in Oregon and driving this same trip with her granddaughter, Heidi and her friend Kim. She traveled to Germany to visit son Michael while stationed there with the Army. While there she tracked down her father's family and spent several days with them on the farm. They communicated very well in spite of the fact that she spoke no German and they spoke no English. She later drove with her daughter-in-law, Linda, to Switzerland to visit her mother's birthplace. While in Oregon, her visits to the Oregon coast with her husband Joe and during family visits were so cherished by her. Her walks along the beautiful coastline were filled with so much joy and her spirit of adventure. Her Son Freddie joined her in one of her Ice Racing Events in her DKW German Car on a Wisconsin Lake earning a top 3 finish, and once even accepted a ride on the back of her Nephew Nick's motorcycle. She and Freddie also won a Mother '"" Son Bowling Tournament! After she inherited her Aunt's home in Grants Pass, Oregon she told her then retired husband Joe, 'I'm moving to Oregon, are you coming with me?' They moved in 1982 and enjoyed their retirement in Oregon. Rosamond was always busy with her beautiful garden, the show place of the neighborhood, her hand painted ceramics and crocheting toys and afghans for her grandchildren and the local craft store. In 1994 they moved to Arvada, Colorado to be near son Michael. There they attended First Church of Christ Scientist, Arvada, which she later joined. After Joe's passing in 1996, Rosamond traveled to Illinois and Montana for the weddings of her grandson Jarod and granddaughter Heidi. She took an Alaskan cruise and visited Yellowstone National Park. Though leaning on a walker for support she kept on walking through the small towns of Alaska and through the geyser fields of Yellowstone. That spirit embodied her life. Through the rough times and the good she kept moving forward drawing on a strength from within, from her faith in God and her childhood on the farm. We, her surviving family: son Michael and his wife Linda of Arvada, CO; son Freddie and his wife Ellen of DeKalb, IL; granddaughter Heidi and husband Tim O'Brien and their sons Shawn and Shannon of Helena, MT; grandson Jarod and his wife Erica of DeKalb, IL; granddaughter Christy and her husband Erik Nelson of Bozeman, MT; nieces Mary and Militsa Samardziya of Washington D.C. all miss her wonderful smile, hearty laugh and genuine love and concern for all of us. But we know she is always with us, still supporting and loving each and everyone of us. We are grateful she was a part of our lives. Love you, Mom. There will be a small gathering of friends and family at her home on Saturday, August 4th from 10AM-12N in celebration of her life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Wide Horizon Inc, 8900 W 38th Ave, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033.