Rose K. Seward

Rose K. Seward (Miss Rose), 92 of Cambridge passed away on Tuesday May 24, 2011 at the Memorial Hospital at Easton after a short stay. She was born in Washington County, in Western Pennsylvania on September 22, 1918, a daughter of the late Stephen and Anna Chalanics (Halanich) Katinsky.

At the age of eight, Miss Rose moved from Pennsylvania with her parents and siblings to the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where she spent her life in the Hurlock, East New Market, Princess Anne and Cambridge areas. After graduating from high school in Hurlock, she attended and graduated in 1941 as a Registered Nurse from the Cambridge Maryland Hospital School of Nursing. During that time she interned at Children's Hospital in Philadelphia and Doctor's Hospital in Washington, DC. During that time, which was during the war, she met and married Oscar E. Seward, of Cambridge, who at that time was serving the war effort with others at the Cambridge Shipyard constructing PT Boats. Just as the war was ending, a daughter Mary was born, and the couple moved to Princess Anne to manage a sawmill operation. Five years later, a son John was born. In retirement, Rose and Oscar returned to Cambridge in 1978.

During her life, Miss Rose was a busy woman - working, volunteering, reading, cooking, collecting and traveling. Avid and passionate in her pursuits, she entered cooking contests and put in countless volunteer hours. In her work career, Miss Rose was a nurse at Cambridge Maryland Hospital, Peninsula General Hospital, Deer's Head Hospital and for many years as a Nursing Supervisor at Pine Bluff State Hospital in Salisbury. During the same time, she returned to college to obtain her Bachelors and Masters Degrees from Salisbury University. Always a volunteer in church and community activities, she served as president and other positions in a variety of organizations. In Princess Anne, she was active in the Women's Society of the United Methodist Church, and the Somerset County Homemaker's Club. During her tenure, a newly created fundraiser of visiting Historic Princess Anne became "Olde Princess Anne Days", and she actively supported the church building expansion.

In Cambridge, she was active with the Beckwith United Methodist Church, the Cambridge Woman's Club, the Robin Hood Shop, the Dorchester General Hospital Auxiliary, the Friends of the Library and the Neck District Fire Co. fund raisers. A regular at the Strawberry Festival, she promoted starting the Apple Festival. She believed strongly in giving back to the community. During her final years, Miss Rose was known as the Poster Girl for Pleasant Day and participated in their activities.

Miss Rose is survived by her daughter Mary Seward Fogarty and son in law John Fogarty of Los Angeles, California and Cambridge and her son John Andrew Seward of Louisiana; nephew Ted Wilson and his wife Barbara Spedden Wilson of Cambridge, a sister in law Ruth Seward Edgar of Apple Valley, Minnesota, two nieces Cindy Parker and her family of Minnesota and Diane Brookshire and family of Louisiana and Dorchester County, cousins Bonnie Hulson, Sue Clauss and Tom Clauss; step grandchildren Diane and Ken Fogarty, step great grandchildren Molly and Colleen Farragher and her very dear friends. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband Oscar E. Seward in 1990; two sisters Mary Katinsky and Julia Katinsky Matthews and two brothers Andrew Katinsky and John Katinsky.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday afternoon at 12:00 PM at the Thomas Funeral Home, P.A. in Cambridge with Bishop Joel Marcus Johnson officiating. The family will receive friends during the hour preceding the service. Interment will follow at the Spedden-Seward Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Dorchester Co. Public Library, 303 Gay Street, Cambridge, MD 21613, to the Robin Hood Shop of the Dorchester General Hospital Auxiliary, P.O. Box 554, Cambridge, MD 21613 or volunteer more for the charity of your choice.