A beloved mother, nana, sister, teacher, friend, and Spartan, Rose Mary (Meyers) Fish passed away peacefully on April 21, 2026. Surrounded by love, she leaves a legacy of kindness, fighting spirit, and quiet strength that will live on in all who knew her.

Born in a midwife’s cottage in Portland, Michigan on January 29, 1945, Rosie arrived as the second oldest of twelve children. Growing up on a dairy farm, she learned the value of hard work, sharing, and looking out for others - traits that would define her life. In a bustling house full of siblings, she became a natural caregiver and peacemaker.

She met her beloved husband, Jim, at a Portland St. Patrick’s basketball game - and the rest, as they say, is history. Married in the great Michigan blizzard of 1967, they went on to share 59 years together. Their partnership took them from Fort Knox, Kentucky, back to Michigan, and eventually to The Villages, Florida.

Her most cherished role, however, was that of mother and nana. Rosie poured her heart into raising her children, Jim and Sheri, teaching them by example what it meant to be compassionate, resilient, and true to oneself. She doted on her grandchildren: Conor, Zach, Olivia, Sydney, and Donovan. “Nana” was a true role model to her grandchildren.

Rosie was a proud graduate of Michigan State University, where she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education. She was, without question, their number one fan - cheering on the Spartans with unwavering loyalty, season after season. In the final months of her life, she even had a special Zoom call with her much admired MSU basketball coach, Tom Izzo. A dedicated bench in her honor will be placed on Michigan State’s campus in front of the Breslin Center.

Rosie was a natural nurturer, tirelessly caring for her plants, her garden, her students, and the people she loved. She devoted more than 30 years to her calling as a teacher and golf coach. She believed with all her heart that teaching the next generation was the most important job in the world. She brought her creative zest to her 1st, 3rd, and 5th grade classrooms at Sunfield Elementary School, making learning feel both fun and full of possibility. Rosie also poured her heart into her daughter’s nonprofit, LiveGirl, helping to run summer camp in its founding years and mentoring hundreds of girls. Many of her former students and players carried her lessons far beyond the classroom and fairways, remembering her as the teacher who believed in them when they needed it most.

Rosie is predeceased by her parents, John and Stella Meyers, and survived by her beloved husband Jim; children Jim Fish and Sheri West; in-laws Beth Fish and Brian West; grandchildren Conor West, Zach Fish, Olivia West, Sydney Fish, Donovan West; siblings Marie Alt, Nick Meyers, John Meyers, and Julie Deatrick; sister-in-law Coral Fish, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Rosie will be deeply missed by all who loved her and by everyone whose life she touched. Her love, her lessons, and her fighting spirit will continue to guide the many hearts she helped shape.

Services will be held at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Wildwood, Florida on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 1 pm. In lieu of flowers, Rosie requested that donations be made to Moffitt Cancer Research (Attn: Dr. Soliman’s Research), in gratitude for their care and in hope of advancing a cure for cancer.

Arrangements entrusted with BALDWIN BROTHERS Funeral & Cremation Society-Spanish Springs, 352-430-1449. Sentiments are encouraged at www.baldwincremation.com.