Marrla Rossiter

MarrLa Rossiter, 84, of Ottawa, Illinois, passed away Friday, May 16, 2014, at Pleasant View surrounded by her loving family. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 23, 2014 at St. Mary's Church in Naplate with Rev. Mike Adrie officiating. Burial will be in Ottawa Avenue Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 22, 2014, with Prayers at 3:45 pm at Ottawa Funeral Home and also one hour prior to Mass at Church on Friday. MarrLa was born in LaSalle, Illinois, to Charles and Elsie (Brooker) VanCraen. She married Harold "Toot" Rossiter on October 23, 1948, at St. Mary's Church in Naplate. MarrLa worked as a Telephone Operator at Illinois Bell Telephone in Ottawa; at Westclox in Peru; at Peltier Glass Factory in Ottawa, and as a Lunch Room Supervisor at Lincoln School in Ottawa. She was a member of Catholic Daughters of America and the Alter and Rosary Society of St. Mary's Church in Naplate. MarrLa was an amazing woman. Known as "MA" to many, she always loved having children around her. She was a fantastic cook; no child ever went hungry if Ma Rossiter was around. She was the original DIY remodel queen. You never knew when a wall would be torn down, and a new room revealed. She loved adventure, and encouraged growth through change. She taught us what unconditional love is, gave us strength, and lived her Christian faith every day of her life. She supported everyone's dreams, took anyone and everyone under her wing, and shared whatever was needed whether she had it to give or not. She was very talented, with crochet being her favorite pass time. She made something for everyone .a stocking hat, a baby blanket, or maybe an afghan. She was a daughter, sister, wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother and a wonderful friend to many. The world may not have known her name, but she was our world. We will miss her laughter, beautiful smile, sense of humor and her wonderful and wacky sarcastic wit. MarrLa is survived by one daughter, Marcia (Dwayne) Ellis of Ottawa; two sons, Dennis (Sharon) Rossiter of Ottawa and John (Lori) Rossiter of Marseilles; five grandchildren, Lonna (Tony) Higgins of Collinsville, Josiah (Elizabeth) Hortega of Purcellville, VA, Stephanie (Eli) Johnson, Nathan Rossiter and Chris (Cheyenne) Rossiter, all of Marseilles; nine great-grandchildren; her brother, Fred (Katie) Strange of Mountain Home, AK and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents; Step-Father Fred Strange; a son (Michael) in infancy; two sisters, Sharon Strange and DixieLee Parker. Pallbearers will be Josiah Hortega, Nathan Rossiter, Chris Rossiter, Eli Johnson, Tony Higgins, Michael Strange, Fred Strange Jr., and Frank Picchi. Honorary Pallbearers will be John (Jack) McCormick, Kurt Bumgarner, Kevin Bumgarner, Christopher Parker and Aidan Parker.