Roberta Joan Rose

Roberta (Birdie) Rose. Born Roberta Joan Neely on February 9, 1935 in Berthoud, Colorado, to James and Neva Neely, died December 12, 2020. Wife of Ernest (Ernie) Everett Rose, the couple, also known as "Bert and Ernie", were married on June 30, 1956 and lived together for 59 years, until Ernie’s passing in 2015.

When Roberta was born, she weighed only 5 lbs. 3 oz. The first time her grandfather Neely saw her he called her Birdie because he said, "She is just like a little bird". That name stuck throughout her entire life. At a very young age, her father began calling her “Fusser” because she worried about everything; such as whether or not her mother was going to burn the water on the stove. And she loved to tattle on her sister whenever she could.

Her only sibling, an older sister named Ruth, recalls one evening when Birdie was about five years old. Her parents were sitting in their living room and Ruth was showing them how graceful she could dance and sway to the music that was playing. Birdie burst into the room with canning jar rings jangling on both wrists, dancing like a clown. Her parents burst out laughing… her sister did not.

In 1964 she moved, with her husband and three small children, from Cheyenne, Wyoming, to California, living briefly in San Francisco, then in San Mateo for four years, before finally purchasing a home in Burlingame and settling in to raise her family. They lived in that house for nearly 35 years.

During that time the family maintained close ties to “Three Cities Assemblies of God” church, where Roberta served in many different capacities; teaching Sunday school, planning and organizing events and singing in the choir. She even formed a quartet with three other ladies from the church, complete with matching outfits. One of the ladies was named Alice Cool, and so her son Larry always referred to them as, "Cool and the Gang".

She and Ernie also allowed others in need to take up residence in their home. Missionary, Steve Overstreet, lived in their home for almost six months while preparing for his missionary assignment. Opening their home to college students was routine, and they did so on many occasions. During the final years of their lives Birdie’s parents needed a place to live, so she and Ernie built additional rooms onto their Burlingame home, and her parents resided comfortably with family until their passing.

After retirement, they bought a motorhome and drove it over 100,000 miles, traveling around the country visiting family, friends and enjoying the sights.

In 1999 they sold their home in Burlingame and she and Ernie moved to Houston, Texas, where they lived with their daughter Darla and her husband Steve. They quickly became involved with church activities and joined the local YMCA where they went on day excursions, participated in swimming aerobics and made new friends.

Birdie was a very creative person; she decorated cakes for all occasions, created intricate stained-glass work, stitched beautifully detailed needle point, designed, fabricated and sold beaded jewelry and did just about anything else you can think of. Known as “The Cake Lady”, she is MOST famous for her incredible desserts. Holidays and special events were very important to her. She went above and beyond, to make these days memorable for her children and her desserts will probably be missed most of all by them, as so many of their childhood memories of their mother revolved around sweets.

Roberta is survived by; her sister Ruth Mumm, three adult children Walter Rose, Larry Rose and Darla Waters, four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.