Rose Shaw-Sumner's Obituary
Rose A. Shaw-Sumner, born Rosa A. Shaw in December 1944, departed this earthly life at her home in Waipahu, Hawaii on Friday, August 9, 2024, at the age of 79 after recent bouts of pneumonia complicated by COPD.
She is survived by her two daughters: Nicole Franklin of Loveland, Colorado (husband Shaun), and Daniele Sumner of Phoenix, Arizona; as well as her sister Jewel Geiger and some extended family. She is preceded in death by her mother and father Ethel and Barney Shaw.
After graduating high school in Cross City, Florida, she became involved in the Civil Rights movement and joined marches with the likes of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., John Lewis and the Black Panthers. Eventually she arrived in New York and began working in the modeling industry, becoming known as ‘Kelly’ for her bright green eyes, and had great success in the 60’s Twiggy era. As her modeling career wound down, she was inspired to move to Hawaii and landed in Waikiki, where she worked as an executive assistant for military officials in Pearl Harbor. Having believed she wasn’t capable of having children, she was ecstatic when she became pregnant and delivered a baby girl, Nicole, in 1975. Later that same year, she was enticed to move to San Diego where the father was being stationed with the Navy. They married and she became a full-time homemaker to raise his three older children and their first daughter. A few years later, she was profoundly happy to add a second daughter, Daniele, to the family. As her daughters became school age, she returned to working for the government on Coronado Island. Eventually she divorced and raised her two daughters as a single parent.
Her love of books is what she will be most well remembered for, and she passed this enthusiasm on to her daughters, as they would often read together in the evenings. That dedication to reading and learning paved the way for both her children to be able to attend and complete college degrees. Once her children had grown into independent adults, she moved back to the place that brought her the most happiness and returned to Oahu, returned to being called Rose, and was fortunate to find great community in Waipahu.
She also loved music, dancing, eating good food, playing cards and games and the company of friends.
She often shared stories of her two daughters who gave her strength during the rough times and laughter and joy all of the time. She was so proud of her daughters and everything they achieved. Rose loved living in Hawaii and considered it the most beautiful place on earth, often visiting the Byodo-in Temple, North Shore, and the many beautiful hikes, waterfalls and beaches.
Rose wished to have a celebration of life memorial followed by a private family ceremony to say their final goodbyes. The Celebration of Life Memorial and Luncheon will be held August 27 from 11am-1pm at Camille’s Hawaiian Food & Lohiau's Special Event Hall with address at 94-366 Pupupani Street #103, Waipahu, Hawaii. Dress will be Hawaiian casual. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Waipahu Library a place she loved to visit. https://friendsofthelibraryofhawaii.org/waipahuaffiliate/
Rose would love to be remembered with funny and memorable stories that celebrate what was good and fortunate in her life.
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