White River Junction, VT - Mary W. Rose, 90, died on Sunday, January 21, 2024, at Cedar Hill Health Care Center in Windsor, VT. She was born on July 23, 1933, in Hanover, NH to Ehrick J. and Blanche (Fay) Wood and spent her childhood in Pomfret, VT.

Mary was a driven and determined individual; after graduation from Woodstock High School in 1951, she began her post-secondary education in Northampton, MA, but would continue to pursue learning opportunities for much of her adulthood whenever the opportunity presented itself. She was especially proud of achieving a bachelor's degree in behavioral science at the age of 66 in 1999.

Mary began her working career focused on business and administration, but she found her passion helping those with disabilities better engage with their daily lives and community. She worked with adults for a decade before transitioning in 1999 to helping children in the Hartford, VT and Ocala, FL school districts until her retirement. Throughout and alongside her working career, she also dedicated a portion of her time giving back to her community through volunteering with phone hotlines, hospice, gardening clubs, and her church community at the White River Junction United Methodist Church. At home, she was committed mom, making sure to teach her three sons all the life skills she thought they would need from cleaning and keeping a tidy home, to how to forage the perfect rocks and plants to create beautiful and productive gardens and the perfect rock wall. She loved to garden and no matter where she was, she tended her large flower and vegetable gardens with care and love. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren chasing frogs, exploring nature, kayaking and other adventures with them in her earlier years. She derived joy later in life from having her great grandchildren visit and play around her.

Mary is survived by three sons, Gregory E. Rose of Lebanon, Steven W. Rose and ex-wife, Christine P. Rose of Brownsville, VT and Daniel R. Rose and wife Kathrine of Bradford, VT; one sister, Betty Ann Lantz of Woodstock, VT; four grandchildren, Jed, Roxy, Auri, and Ember; six great grandchildren, and other relatives, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents and three siblings, Francis Patnaude, Larry Wood, and Donna Jones.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2024, from 1pm until time of service at 2pm at the Knight Funeral Home in White River Junction. A private family committal service will be held later at Riverview Cemetery in South Royalton, VT.

In celebration of Mary's love of flowers, her family would love for you to send a bouquet in her memory. The flowers will be shared with others following the service to bring a bit of color and happiness to the cold, winter days. Condolences may be expressed to Mary's family in an online guestbook at www.knightfuneralhomes.com.