Rose Marie Losee

Rose Marie Losee of Rotterdam and Taborton, NY, passed away peacefully at her family's home on Thursday, April 23, 2015 after a long illness, with her loving family at her side. Born Rosa Maria Aust on January 18, 1922, in Niedermendig, Germany, she was the daughter of the late William John Aust and Anna Maria (Weiler) Aust. Although she was not born in the United States, due to the laws at the time, Rose Marie was a US citizen at birth, because her parents were US citizens. When she was three months old, she traveled with her parents from Europe, arriving in New York aboard the SS Hansa on April 25, 1922. The family settled in Rotterdam, New York. Growing up, Rose Marie enjoyed spending time at a cabin her father built on Lake Desolation, in the foothills of the Adirondacks. She attended Jefferson School in Rotterdam until 1936, then graduated from Draper High School in 1940. Later, Rose Marie attended Russell Sage and Schenectady County Community Colleges, working toward a degree in Accounting. Rose Marie's first job was as a secretary at the American Automobile Association in Schenectady. After that, she worked for 18 years as the head of payroll at the US Army Depot in Rotterdam. In 1959 she married Irving Harold Losee, and moved to Albany. A few years later, after the birth of their son John, she and John, moved back to Rotterdam to live with Rose Marie's mother, in the house her father had built in 1927. Rose Marie returned to work then, as a bookkeeper, first for the Schenectady Savings Bank, then for the Schenectady Association for Retarded Children. Later she became the Business Manager of the Albany Association for Retarded Children. She finished her career at the Albany Roman Catholic Diocese Office of Diocesan Health and Social Services as their Principal Accountant, retiring in 1986. After retirement, Rose Marie remained active, volunteering until just last year as an usher and in the offices at Proctor's Theater in Schenectady. She was also the first Queen Bee of her Red Hat group - the Scarlet Road Runners. Above all, Rose Marie enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. She also greatly enjoyed spending time at her summer home on Big Bowman Pond in Taborton, NY. She was an avid traveler, returning to Europe 7 times. She also visited numerous other destinations, including her favorite - Bermuda, which she traveled to many times. Rose Marie's hobbies included gardening, writing, sewing and quilting, carpentry, baking, and crossword puzzles. Survivors include her son John Aust Losee and his wife Kristy M. (Harlow) Losee, her grandson, Christopher Adam Losee, Kristy's mother Helen Harlow, several distant cousins, many dear friends, and her devoted granddog Beaujolais. Calling hours will be Friday, May 8, at Bond Funeral Home, 1614 Guilderland Avenue in Schenectady from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm. The funeral will be on Saturday, May 9, at Zion's United Church of Christ, 741 Taborton Road at 1:00 pm. Burial will follow immediately afterward in the cemetery on the hill behind the church. The family will receive visitors for one hour prior to the service at the church as well. The family wishes to extend special thanks to everyone at Hospice of Schenectady, who were instrumental in helping Rose Marie spend her final days comfortably at their home with them. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to either Community Hospice of Schenectady at 445 New Karner Road, Albany, NY 12205; Zion's United Church of Christ at 741 Taborton Rd., Sand Lake, NY 12153; or Best Friends Animal Society at 5001 Angel Canyon Rd., Kanab, UT 84741. Additionally, it was Rose Marie's particular wish that she be remembered by performing a random act of kindness.