Obituary

Rosette “Rose” Bagley, a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and lifelong advocate for justice, passed away peacefully in the presence of family on March 31, 2025, at the age of 89, after suffering a massive stroke on March 29. Born on July 31, 1935, Rose Giroux earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Marquette University in 1957. A year later, she married her childhood sweetheart, John Bagley. She worked as a registered nurse at the Carleton Clinic in Urbana, Illinois, until she and John prepared to welcome their first child. She devoted herself to raising their family and was the loving mother of six children: Daniel (Nancy), Jeanne Marie (deceased), Mary Beth (Peter) Schmit, Ann Lafferty, Joan-Hannah Bagley-Kaytonah, and Albert (Kelly). She tragically lost Jeanne Marie at a young age — a sorrow no parent ever fully recovers from. While she occasionally worked as a nurse throughout her life, her greatest commitment was to her family and to the causes she believed in. Along with her husband John, Rose was a passionate and tireless advocate for social justice, world peace, and universal understanding. She dedicated herself to uplifting the overlooked and the less fortunate, always standing firm in her belief that love and acceptance could change the world. Her activism was not just words—she put herself on the front lines, and her periodic acts of civil disobedience led to a number of largely symbolic arrests. Though she sometimes faced hostility for her unwavering stance on equality and justice, and despite standing no taller than 5’2″, she never wavered, meeting opposition with steadfast resolve and quiet, fierce courage. Her efforts were recognized many times over, though she never sought accolades—only change. She and John shared 60 years of marriage until his passing in 2018, building a life grounded in love, compassion, and service. In the years after John’s death, while she was surrounded by many wonderful friends, she developed a particularly close and rewarding relationship with Sheldon Appleton, whose companionship brought her great joy. She was a cherished grandmother to Ray, Eric, Alex, Leo (Kelly), Rose, Gina, and Tommy, and a great-grandmother to Noa Rose, Elia Jane and Heidi Louise.