Rosalie Diane Eby

Rosalie Diane Eby, affectionately known as “Rodi” or “Ro,” most recently of Pittson, and formerly of Galloway Township, N.J., passed away Friday, Nov. 29, 2013 after a long and brave battle with cancer. She was born in Oklahoma City, Okla., on Dec. 10, 1944, the oldest child of four children born to Mildred Nasser Eby and the late Edison James Eby. Rosalie grew up in the Wyoming Valley, attending Fort Pittston and Garfield Elementary schools in Pittston. She was a 1964 graduate of Plains High School, but had attended West Wyoming schools until her senior year, and always had great fondness for her classmates there, with whom she had lifelong friendships. After graduation, Rosalie helped support her family by working at various plants in the area, such as Plains Bra and Blouse, Rifkins and American Tobaccco. Rosalie was gifted in dealing with the public, and found her niche as a valued, longtime employee at Deemer and Co. Office Supply in Wilkes-Barre. She was groomed for management with courses from Northern Office Products Association. She supervised the Wilkes-Barre Deemers Store following the flood of 1972. Always an energetic, hard worker and people oriented person, she supplemented her full-time job with various jobs as a waitress and bartender, most notably by Vispi’s Camelot Lounge in Edwardsville, as well as Holiday Inn, Peking Chef and Stocker’s Piano Bar. In 1983, Rosalie left the Valley to find work in the booming casino industry in Atlantic City, and worked banquets at several casinos, including work at Bally’s Grand. Prior to her retirement, she worked for 20 years as a buffet beverage server at Sultan’s Feast Buffet, at Trump Taj Mahal. She made wonderful, lifelong friends at every place of employment and was known for her beautiful smile and willingness to go out of her way to help everyone. Rosalie had great natural talent in art, and while not formally trained, she was paid for her artistic creations for local advertising. Her passion was for art, and her favorite hobbies were her love of history, reading biographies and works of ancient history,researching geneology, listening to all sorts of music,and treasure hunting at Cook and Cook’s estate sales and local flea markets. She loved to dance, especially the jitterbug, and loved holidays, although she usually worked them. She was adept at making creative, original Halloween costumes, first for her little sister and then for her son. Rosalie loved lighthearted comedies, such as “Seinfeld,” “King of Queens,” and “Big Bang Theory.” She enjoyed her volunteer work tending the herb garden and participating in guided tours at the Nathan Denison House in Wyoming, and loved wearing the historical costumes. She was a member of the Luzerne County Historical Society. Always committed to a healthy diet and lifestyle, she enjoyed neighborhood walks with her friends and visiting with neighbors in her close knit Pine Street, Pittston neighborhood. An avid photographer, Rosalie enjoyed capturing moments through the lens of her camera, and sharing those photos with her subjects. Her collection is vast. Rosalie’s greatest joy and source of pride in life was becoming a mother and seeing her son grow to be a fine young man. Her creative methods of preparing healthy, delicious homemade foods for his special diet inspired him to become a professional chef. Rosalie is survived by her son, Douglass Williams and his partner, Debra Freeman, Boston, Mass.; her sister, Juanita Krieger and her partner, Thomas Woodeshick, Bear Creek Township; her brothers, Daniel and Melvyn Eby and her mother, Milly, all of Tallahassee, Fla.; her beloved pet cats, Tortie and Peanut, at home; and numerous cousins and extended family as well as many close friends both in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She will be missed greatly and remembered as a woman who was eternally optimistic and hopeful, a determined fighter, a loving mother, sister, daughter and friend. She was someone capable of great forgiveness, humor and one who showed much compassion and generosity to those less fortunate. Rosalie’s family would like to thank the professionals who provided her with loving care. They include Dr. Bruce Saidman and the staff of Medical Oncology Associates in Kingston, Dr. Susan Domchek and her staff at Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania, Barbara Sico and the staff of Bayada Home Health Care, and finally, the staff at Celtic Hospice Care who offered her and her family great comfort in her final days. A debt of gratitude is also owed to her friends, Louise, Hazel, Marion, Debbie and so many others who were always there to fill a need with words of support, humor, homemade soup and a ride to a medical appointment. Rosalie was a member of St. Mary’s Antiochian Church in Wilkes-Barre. Private arrangements are being made at the convenience of the family through Pennsylvania Cremation Society & Strauch Funeral Home in Scranton. Two celebrations of Rosalie’s life will be announced and held at a later date, both in New Jersey and in the Wyoming Valley. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Blue Chip Farms Animal Refuge, 974 Lockville Road, Dallas, PA 18612.

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