Rosel was born at home in Misdroy, Germany, on April 29, 1933, located on the Baltic Sea, a little seaside resort. Her father died when she was a baby, so she was raised by her mother along with her beloved brother Lothar. She died on Oct. 1, 2026.

Rosel enjoyed her childhood roaming the beach, exploring the woods, and always busy with chores.

When World War II started in 1939 their lives in a small town changed and they rented out rooms. When the war ended in 1945 Germany was divided up, and where they lived was occupied by the Russians, and later the Polish, and they were forced to leave.

Tragically, their mother developed pneumonia and died leaving them orphaned; Rosel was 13 years old.

A strong determined woman, she went to a business trade school and took night classes to learn English.

At 17, Rosel took a train on the ferry across the English Channel arriving at Victoria Station in London, where she found work as a nanny.

At 21, she met Edmund, the love of her life, at a dance hall and got married. Soon after they started a family, and Veronica was born.

A year later another big change: with $89 in their pockets and a job promise in Chicago, they decided to immigrate by boat to the United States. Annette was born shortly after.

After two years in cold and windy Chicago they bought their first car, had another job offer, and decided to move west, camping to California and settling in the San Fernando Valley.

As they both would say, “Life is good and what you make of it.”

Years later they moved to Santa Barbara to be closer to family that has grown from a family of four, to sons-in-law, six grandchildren Ashley, Chelsea, Cody, Jesse, Blake, Kyle, and seven great grandchildren.

Rosel was lovingly known as wife, sister, mom, Oma, Ur Oma and friend. A feisty, strong willed, stubborn and sweet woman who loved life, her family and friends.