Roselaine Perkis passed away peacefully with her daughter, Rachel, and son-in-law, Garrett, by her side on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, in Olympia, Washington.
She was born April 9, 1939 to Sarah and Samuel Grosberg in Worchester, Massachusetts.
A 27-year resident of Rainier, Washington, she also lived in Warwick, New York (1987-1992 and 1973-1979), Brighton, Massachusetts (1985-1987) and Brooklyn, New York (1979-1985).
Rosalaine graduated high school in Dorchester, Massachusetts in 1956. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1960 from Massachusetts College of Art and a Master’s in art education in 1967 from City College of New York.
She married Philip Perkis in Boston, Massachusetts in 1960 and had a daughter Rachel in 1962. The marriage lasted 25 years.
Roselaine was an assistant professor of Art Education at Ladycliff College in Highland Falls, New York (1969-1979; a self-employed illustrator/designer (1979-1985); art teacher at Vernon Valley Middle School in Vernon, New Jersey (1986-1992); and a substitute teacher in Rainier, Washington (1993-2010).
Roselaine was an educator, painter, illustrator, gardener, veracious reader and dedicated seeker of truth. She was very intelligent and quick witted. She loved art, music, gardening, being in nature and travel. She was a wonderful teacher and caretaker.
She took life very seriously and was dedicated to the search for the answers to the big un-answerable questions. She was fiercely independent and loved sharing ideas.
She had a witty sense of humor and loved to laugh and tell stories. She could draw anything and had an incredible sensitivity to color. She was a long-time student of the Ramtha School of Enlightenment.
Roselaine is survived by daughter, Rachel Durland, son in law, Garrett Durland, and grandchildren Benjamin Durland and Lucas Durland. She was predeceased by her parents; sister Charlotte Grosberg; and brother Leslie Grosberg.
No services are planned. Memorial donations may be made to Providence St. Peter Hospital Health Care Foundation.
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