Published online. Names of living survivors redacted.

Rosalie Rankin Fonda, 91, of Durham died Sunday January 1, 2023 in the Pavilion at Croasdaile Village. She was born March 30, 1931 in Newport, Rhode Island and, as the daughter of US Navy Captain John Wilkes Rankin and Betty Brandt Rankin, spent her early years in Jamestown RI, Philadelphia PA, the Philippines; San Diego CA, and Bremerton WA. She attended Milwaukee Downer College and later Tufts University (Boston School of Occupational Therapy), from which she graduated. After receiving further training in Liverpool, England, she began her career as an occupational therapist.

In 1954, in Newport, Rhode Island, she married Carl Roger Fonda of New Rochelle, New York. The couple initially settled in Woonsocket, Rhode Island and then Nabnasset, Massachusetts before relocating to Durham in 1962.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Carl, who died in 2011 and by a sister, Louise Rankin Walker, who died in 2013.

Rosalie saw herself first and foremost as a loving wife and mother; she truly was both of these.

In the mid-1970s Rosalie resumed her career as an occupational therapist at Durham's VA Hospital and worked there and in local nursing homes throughout the 1980s. She and her late husband, Carl, were longtime members of Durham's St. Luke's Episcopal Church. Rosalie served the church in many capacities, notably as a leader of the Episcopal Church Women as well as the Altar Guild over the course of many decades. She also volunteered as a tutor, assisting the children of Mexican immigrants through a program at the church. Wherever there was a need at the church, she was usually helping out.

Outside of church she also volunteered in many capacities, including the Girl Scouts, Exchange Club (Exchangette of the Year 2003), Hospice, the Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, and Meals on Wheels. She was a member of the General Davie Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Rosalie was an accomplished seamstress making many of the clothes she wore during her adult life. In addition, she was an artistic and talented quilter and knitter, making innumerable quilts, sweaters, scarves, caps, and gloves for her family and friends. Throughout her life Rosalie enjoyed playing bridge. She especially enjoyed playing Mexican Train dominos with friends at Croasdaile Village.

Until the very end, Rosalie devoted herself to knitting hundreds of caps for newborns and cancer patients at Duke Hospital.

A memorial service will be held at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Durham on Saturday 1/21/23 at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Luke's Episcopal Church Memorial Fund, or the charity of one's choice.