Rosemarie Martindell

Rosemarie Martindell, 82, of Albany, formerly of Beaverton, passed away peacefully on December 11 at Samaritan Albany General Hospital, with her children Colleen and Sean by her side. Rosemarie was born in Wilmerding, Pennsylvania, the eighth of nine children to Harry and Anna (Sullivan) Ryan. In Wilmerding, Rosie was known for her striking red hair, and for being a multi-sport athlete. Her second home was the YMCA, and she was a competitive swimmer and diver. She also twirled the baton and was a majorette with the band. Rosemarie graduated from Westinghouse Memorial High School in 1951. While she had a scholarship and planned to attend college, she gave up her plans and chose to work and support her mother after her father passed away that same year. She worked as an executive secretary for Westinghouse in Pittsburgh and was also active in the Pittsburgh Modeling Club. When offered a position at Westinghouse in San Francisco, Rosemarie drove cross-country and brought her mother along for the ride on Route 66. While in San Francisco, Rosemarie met Jim Martindell, and they were married in 1967. They moved to Portland, and soon after, welcomed Colleen and Sean into their lives. Rosemarie also helped raise her stepson, Steve. Rosemarie devoted her life to caring for others. She was a loving person who always put everyone else's needs above her own. Rosemarie's compassion knew no bounds, and she was the primary caregiver for her Aunt Mary, Aunt Agnes, her mother in-law, Leonora, and husband, Jim at the end of their lives. She was a volunteer with St. Vincent Hospital Guild for twenty-seven years, and worked alongside nurses in the oncology unit providing compassionate care to cancer patients. She also volunteered as a tax-preparer at the Elsie Stuhr Center for over thirty years. As health challenges slowed her down over the last four years, Rosemarie became a beloved resident of Canfield Place in Beaverton, and then of Blair House Adult Foster Home in Albany, where her sweet manner and sense of humor charmed and inspired all of her caregivers. Rosemarie was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Harry, Joseph and Robert, and sisters Alice and Dorothy. Survivors include her sisters Catherine and Dolores; brother Thomas (Helena); brother in law John; daughter Colleen (Andy); son Sean (Kimberley); stepson Steve (Susie); and grandchildren Alyssa, Ryan, Taylor and Justin. A memorial mass will be on Monday, December 21 at 10:00 am at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 1280 NW Saltzman Rd., Portland.