Obituary of Rocella M. Caldwell

"There are very few humans on the planet that embodied love & joy like Rosie Caldwell. She saw people for who they are and loved them. She didn’t see their wrongdoings first, she saw them as humans first. True to her faith, she loved fiercely, just as she felt God intended us to do.

Rocella Pladsen arrived here on November 2, 1949 into a large family. Rosie was born into a family with 6 brothers (Arlyn, Roger, Cletus, David, Ken, and Gary) and life on the farm with all these ornery personalities left Rosie always up for a time of laughs. The stories of growing up always entertained any audience member. Rosie left the farm life, but the farm never really left her. She was never scared to get her hands dirty, and her work ethic left a lasting impression on her children.

Miss Pladsen married Ben Caldwell on December 14th of 1974. Ben came with 3 children,Tad, Tim, and Tanna, of his own from a previous marriage. But Rosie raised them as her own, and loved them with all the love she could. She always felt love was a staple and she showed it. Later, Rosie and Ben added to their family with their son, Adam, and their daughter, Natalie. Why? Because clearly they enjoy chaos. There was never a division amongst the kids. It didn’t occur to any one of the kids they were half-siblings at all. That was a testament to them as parents. Rosie modeled love and family because that is what was most important to her.

Rosie was a dedicated Elivs fan, and the family was regularly exposed to his music. The family learned to also love and respect The King. She was a music lover in general, and music was on constantly in the house. Elvis was a common artist to hear, but so was Patsy Cline, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Niel Diamond, Bette Midler, Olivia Newton-John, and so many more. Rosie also enjoyed being outside. She took many walks, and it was very common to find her digging in the dirt planting, replanting, moving plants, etc. She also enjoyed all her grand-dogs, and they all knew the word “Grandma”.

Her first grandchild arrived in August 1998, Isaiah. Then shortly after came Baillie, Claire, Ellie, and Cori. Rosie was beyond smitten. One wouldn’t have known she could love more than what she did, but those grandchildren were her biggest point of pride. Most recently, she gained three bonus granddaughters, Alex, Chloe, and Josie, whom she loved upon the first meeting. She worried about each of her children, well into their adulthood, and now she had these grandchildren she was going to put her little grandma bubble around. The rules she set for her own children were no longer, these grandkids stayed up well past their bedtime with grandma, they ate desserts in the morning, and so many messes were made. And Rosie would just laugh.

If you asked her what made her most happy, it was when she had her children and grandchildren in one place. She loved watching them laugh and enjoy each other. She loved seeing her hardest work all just fall into a space that personified her joy and her love was awe-inspiring to her. It was such a beautiful event for her to watch and take part in. She would just laugh. Her laugh will be missed most.

Rosie had two goals in life: to be a loving mother and to be a hairstylist. Those two goals were achieved. Her children were so lucky to have such an amazing role model of love. If someone was lucky enough to sit in her chair at her salon, they were honored in a way only Rosie could offer. They were validated and loved. And she created a small community within her business. Little did her clients know it, Rosie worried and cared about them outside of the salon, too. She went above and beyond her role as a hairstylist. She was a friend.

Rosie entered eternal life on Tuesday, October 8th of 2024. Her spirit is carried on through her children and grandchildren. Her love will continue to bestow them. Her three brothers on Earth, Ken, David, and Gary, will carry her joy and her memories of an ornery child. Her life-partner, Ben, will forever be changed due to her dedication to her marriage, her love for him and their children, and her kind spirit. All are dedicated to keep her spirit of love and joy alive.

Rosie was greeted on the other side by her parents, Ruby and Wallace, her brothers, Arlyn, Cletus, and Roger, and so many family pets. Her grandparents embraced her, too. We know she is around us all, loving us, hugging us, but also, she is busy doing and having a party like only she can do, hopefully with Elvis himself.

Mom, we love you, and you will forever be missed. See ya later, alligator. "