Rosalee Waive Sharpe

Rosalee Waive (Mason) Sharpe, age 95, passed away peacefully on October 4, 2024 at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Bethlehem, PA. She was attended by her daughter, son-in-law, son and 2 granddaughters, as well as many caring hospital and hospice staff.

Rosalee was born on June 29, 1929 in Bradyville, Iowa, the firstborn daughter of Arvey and Faye (Ervin) Mason. She had 6 siblings: her sister Delores, who died tragically at the age of 2, as well as 3 brothers – Arvey, Richard (Dick) and Ron and 2 other sisters – Faye Ann (Annie) and Glenda Sue (Susie).

Rosalee attended school at the Pillar of Fire (Pillar Ministries) schools in Colorado and New Jersey and eventually obtained her 2-year college degree. In 1944 at the age of 15 she met and fell in love with Marvin Sharpe. They were married on November 29, 1948 in Westminster, CO. The couple served as full-time members of the Pillar Ministries religious organization where Rosalee taught in the organization’s elementary schools in Colorado. They started a family and 2 sons, Marvin and Mark, and daughter Julie were born before they relocated to the Pillar Ministries branch at Zarephath, NJ around 1960. Their 3rd son David was born in NJ. Rosalee continued to serve as a teacher at Temple Christian Day School in Bound Brook until she retired from teaching in the late 1990s. After retiring from teaching she worked part time in the mail room for the Pillar Ministries radio station WAWZ (now Star99).

Rosalee loved music and was gifted as a pianist, playing special music and accompaniment for church services and church and school programs. She also taught piano to her own and other children. Her husband Marvin was an avid gardener/farmer and she learned how to cook and preserve the fresh produce and managed the finances for their local strawberry stand. She enjoyed traveling with her family and made many cross-country trips. Her favorite place in the world was the Colorado Rocky Mountains, but she also traveled several times to the UK and visited Israel and Egypt with Marvin. She spent her later active years watching her granddaughters, crocheting many afghans for the Elks to distribute to local nursing home residents, and also caring for her husband as his health deteriorated until his death in 2011.

Rosalee remained independent for several years although she continued to grieve the loss of her husband of 63 years, but then developed health challenges and required assistance of a live-in home health aide. She lived in her home at Zarephath, NJ until it was flooded during hurricane Ida in September 2021. She then went to live with her daughter Julie and husband Paul in Hillsborough NJ and moved with them to Catasauqua PA in mid 2024. In her final months, she got to spend time with her newest great-granddaughter and name-sake, Rosalie.

Rosalee is survived by her children, Julie and David; her grandchildren, Tara, Dustin, Mark Jr, Sara, Rachel and Austin; 12 great-grandchildren; her brother Ron, and her sister Glenda Sue.

Preceding Rosalee in death are her beloved husband, Marvin; her sons, Marvin and Mark; grandchildren, Brooke and Marvin; parents, Arvey and Faye; brothers, Arvey and Richard; and sisters, Delores and Faye Anne.

Gathering with the family will begin at 2:00 p.m. with a funeral service from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 6, 2024 at Hagan-Chamberlain Funeral Home, 225 Mountain Avenue, Bound Brook.

Interment to follow at 10:00 a.m. Friday, October 11, 2024 at Pillar of Fire Cemetery, Zarephath.

All arrangements are under the care and supervision of Hagan-Chamberlain Funeral Home.