[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 21 (Monday, February 5, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E261]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING ROSEANNA WABEL McDERMOTT (1909-2007)

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JIM McDERMOTT

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, February 5, 2007

  Mr. McDERMOTT. Madam Speaker, on behalf of loving family and friends, 
I enter into the Record our memory of Roseanna Wabel McDermott, born in 
Streator, Illinois, who died peacefully on January 29, 2007, at 
Columbia Lutheran Home in Seattle. We will miss her gentle spirit and 
twinkling eye.
  Roseanna and her husband, Mac, came to the great Northwest in 1971. 
Early in their marriage, they had founded a church in their garage in 
the Chicago suburbs. Throughout her life, Roseanna continued to live 
her Christian faith of love, charity and compassion. She fundamentally 
rejected racism and unjust war.
  A true mid-Westerner and a bride of the Depression, Roseanna had 
sizeable grit and an entrepreneur's resourcefulness. She could make 
something out of nothing, and for her everything had at least one more 
use before it went into the trash. She re-wired lamps, rejuvenated 
Charlie Brown Christmas trees with a bit of careful grafting, and 
mended furniture. She was a saver--of string, rubber bands, and plastic 
twist ties. And, she showed us there was always hope for a dying plant, 
a broken chair, or a difficult personality.
  As a consummate gardener, Roseanna fed her family from her backyard 
and taught her offspring the wonders of composting, the satisfaction of 
baking and the skill of darning. She was a crack gin rummy player 
(despite her misgivings about the danger of cards), and she loved the 
interaction and challenge of a good game of Scrabble. She enjoyed all 
things northwest--Dungeness crab, Pacific oysters and the Seattle 
Mariners.
  Roseanna possessed a wide curiosity and believed in the power of 
education. A Streator High School graduate, yet financially unable to 
go to college herself, she sacrificed for the education of her children 
and served as their constant reminder of the benefits of hard work and 
life-long learning.
  Roseanna's loving presence and beautiful smile were dwarfed only by 
her huge heart and unwavering belief in the goodness of all. She is 
preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, William Morrell (Mac), 
and survived by her children Jim, John, Lois, Mark; her grandchildren 
Katherine, Jim and Nicholas; and, her great grandchildren Kendall and 
Lachlan.
  In tribute to their loving care of Roseanna, donations may be sent to 
Columbia Lutheran Home (columbialutheranhome.com) 4700 Phinney Ave. N., 
Seattle, WA 98103. Please join in celebration of this beloved woman on 
February 10th at University Congregational United Church of Christ at 2 
p.m. (4515 16th Ave NE, Seattle).

                          ____________________