Julia Roseline Kessler

Julia Roseline “Rose” (Anderson) Kessler

July 9, 1924 – December 25, 2025

Rose Kessler died peacefully at home at 101 years of age on Christmas Day in St. Charles, Illinois, surrounded by family.

Rose lived an idyllic childhood with her twin sister and siblings on her family's Minnesota farm in the 1920s and 30s. She was an adventurous spirit, leaving her farm to attend nursing college in Fargo, ND. As a newly graduated RN in 1944, she served in several Red Cross tuberculosis units around the country. Rose was on her way to another nursing position in Hawaii when Ray proposed to her. They married in 1950 and settled down in the Chicago area. She continued to practice nursing part-time while moving with her family from Illinois to Minnesota, New Hampshire, Kansas, Arizona, and eventually back to Illinois.

Rose lived a life of joy and laughter; loudly singing her favorite songs like “Edelweiss” from The Sound of Music and “Que Sera Sera” by the movie star Doris Day, whom she resembled.

She was a deeply religious Catholic, and lived a life of faith, hope, and love of family.

Rose is preceded in death by her husband of 72 years, Raymond George Kessler (d. May 2022).

She is survived by her brother Richard Anderson and her 13 children: Gregory (Jane), Marcus (Evryl), Patrick (Marian), Rosemary, Timothy (Patricia), Peter (Jeannine), Susan (George), Paul, Michael (Molly), Philip (Susanne), Madeline (David), Mary, and John, as well as 37 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren and counting.

Visitation for Rose will be held Saturday, January 3, 2026 from 9:00-10:30am at Malone Funeral Home, 324 E. State Street, Geneva. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 400 Cedar Street, St. Charles at 11:00am. Burial will follow at Prairie Cemetery in St. Charles. 

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