Thursday, February 1, 2018

Rosie's Life and Past Should Be Made Into a Television Movie



Rosie and I reconnected face to face in July of 2016.  She and I knew one another casually when I taught skating in the 1980s in southern California.  Rosie was one of the pioneers of adult figure skating and competed in many adult skating competitions at the time.  She competed in the very first US Figure Skating Association Adult National Open Championships.

I last saw Rosie in 1987 when I ran a huge ISI recreational skating competition at Iceland in Paramount, California.  I remember she entered almost every possible event an adult skater could enter.  She won many of the competitions she entered since she was a very strong skater.

Rosie Won at the First Ever Adult Nationals!





What I didn't know about Rosie then was that when she was 19 years old, her mother died and Rosie, at 19, ended up raising her four younger siblings.  Her story is a bit like one of those Hallmark Channel television movies, but what is even more amazing is that despite almost being homeless at such a young age, that Rosie went on to become a stockbroker, an ABA Trial Paralegal and tax consultant, and recently earned a Master's Degree!

I am proud to call Rosie my friend since she is one of the most loving and generous people I know.

Here's some of Rosie's story:

Rosie grew up in southern California and skated recreationally as a child and teen at the old Glacier Falls Ice Arena in Anaheim, California.  Her father died when she was 13 years old and at his deathbed, he asked Rosie to promise to take care of her mother and siblings which included three younger brothers and a baby sister.

Before her father's death, the family moved to New York state.  Rosie's mother was very ill, so Rosie pretty much was like a mother to her baby sister and her brothers.  She dropped out of school in 10th grade to take care of her four siblings when her mother was diagnosed with cancer.

Rosie's Youngest Siblings Michael and Lisa Before Their Mother's Death

Rosie and Her Three Brothers in 1972

After her mother died when Rosie was 19, the court sent Rosie's then five year old sister away (which was very traumatic for Rosie and her siblings), and sent Rosie and her brothers (ages 15, 14, and 10) to California to live with an uncle.

When the four orphan children got off the plane, the uncle announced to her that since she was "of age" at 19 years old, that she was on her own and departed with her brothers.  Rosie stood on the streets of California all alone and frightened and wanted to cry, but instead, decided to not give up.  She was completely homeless and broke with only a 9th grade education.

A scribbled piece of paper had been given to Rosie with a phone number of someone who could help her in California if needed, so in shock, Rosie called that number and a wonderful woman took her in.  That woman was Gretchen Purves.  Gretchen and her husband, Miciah were total strangers, but gave Rosie shelter, food, and a place to sleep.  Rosie slept on the couch in their baby's room.  Not long after that, a couple from the Purves's church (Chuck Smith's Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa),  Tom and Teri Phipps, gave her shelter and a home and loved her as if she was their own daughter.  (Rosie says the Phipps still love her like family.)

A short time later, what only could happen in a fictional book occurred:

One Sunday, after church, Rosie found her three younger brothers standing in front of the church with paper bags filled with all their belongings.  Her uncle was with the boys and said, "You wanted them...I don't want them...they are now yours!"  He then promptly drove away. 

It turned out her uncle wasn't getting enough money from the foster care system.  His brothers told her that the uncle told them that he wanted them to live with their sister.  Rosie says she is grateful to that uncle for bringing her family to California and keeping the siblings together even though she expected her uncle to actually take care of her and her brothers which did not happen.

Rosie raised those three younger brothers all on her own.  She found an apartment for her family, worked all the time, and sacrificed everything for her brothers.  She told me that she fed the boys a lot of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese and made sure they got to school and she did all that a parent was supposed to do.  Eventually she and her brothers were reunited with their sister.

Skating became a way that Rosie could do something for herself and that is when I met her.  I always admired her drive, but I had no idea that she had done so much for her family.

Today, Rosie's siblings are grown and some have their own children.  I've met two of Rosie's brothers and a nephew.

Rosie Now Enjoys Being an Aunt!
JO ANN and Luke


In addition, I have met one of Rosie's former neighbors named Luke.  Luke is an amazing young man that I'm proud to call a friend.  Luke plays hockey and I've helped him with some of his hockey skating skills.

Life is a journey and Rosie has proved that her life's journey is certainly a remarkable one!  She was homeless, uneducated, and broke at a very young age and went on to raise four siblings on her own when she was really still a child.  And...she skated and won competitions!  Rosie, it is an honor to be your friend. 💗


Further Reading:

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1 comment:

  1. UnknownFebruary 5, 2018 at 3:41 PM

    This is a beautiful story of the Grace of God; guiding & directing the life of one of HIS precious lambs!

    ReplyDelete

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