Rose Cecile (Rainville) Crosby

Rose Cecile (Rainville) Crosby, 75, of Waterford, Vermont, passed away suddenly but peacefully at her home on Thursday, May 21, 2026. Born on November 27, 1950, in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, Rose was the middle of three children and the beloved daughter of the late George and Cecile Rainville.

Rose grew up in St. Johnsbury, where she cherished Sunday outings with her parents and brothers, including picnics at local beaches and state parks, as well as sledding adventures centered around campfires and roasting hotdogs. She attended the Mount Saint Joseph Catholic all-girls school and the St. Johnsbury Academy, where she developed many lifelong friendships. As a graduating member of the Class of 1968, Rose was a proud and enthusiastic majorette—a time in her life that she absolutely loved. Soon after high school, she tragically lost her younger brother, Paul, an event which left a hole in her heart that never fully healed.

In December 1968, Rose married Richard Prue. Together they raised two children, Krystal and Jon, who instantly became the center and purpose of her life. Rose spent her early years of motherhood as a stay-at-home mom, time she cherished and often recounted. She regularly walked her kids to the Fairbanks Museum to explore the fun and interesting exhibits inside, to the St. Johnsbury Atheneum to listen to storytellers and pick out new books to read at home, and to the Kiwanis pool to refresh on hot summer days. Rose also loved taking her children to the local outdoor ice-skating rinks, where they would often meet up with extended family for an evening skate.

Rose was a proud mother who thoroughly enjoyed watching her kids excel in numerous activities. You could always find her on the sidelines watching Krystal cheer at football games or standing proudly at Jon’s baseball games, where she was famous for bringing her cowbell to ring loudly from the stands. Never missing an event, Rose also enjoyed watching Krystal dance and Jon play music. Many family memories were made at “Mac and Val’s” camp in Walden, Vermont—a place that was rough in stature but rich in nature. While there, Rose loved coloring and playing games with her kids, going for nature walks, picking wild blueberries, and spending quality time soaking in the sun. Known for her award winning lasagna, Rose and her family often laugh about the time a freshly made lasagna was left on the roof of the car and made the trip from St. Johnsbury to Walden without falling off, likely due to its ridiculous weight.

In 1993, after 24 years of marriage, Richard and Rose went their separate ways. On her own, her children grown and gone, it was a difficult time in her life. After selflessly dedicating her entire adult life to this point on being a wife and a mother, Rose focused on self-reflection and self-discovery to find who she really was and to uncover a new path. Throughout this time, she learned that she was strong enough to live on her own, enjoyed creating new hobbies like playing pool, meeting new people, reconnecting with old friends, and traveling.

In September of 1996, Rose met Alan Crosby. They were married on April 9, 2002, in Hawaii, and shared a beautiful life together until his passing in 2023. Rose and Alan shared a love for travel, playing pool, dancing, gardening, and watching sports. They spent countless hours maintaining their immaculate property, taking deep pride in their vibrant vegetable and flower gardens. Together, they loved traveling, spending weekends in Maine, going to Red Sox games, taking several tropical trips to Punta Cana, and making frequent trips to Florida to escape the Vermont winters and visit her prized grandchildren.

Rose brought exceptional dedication and a bright personality to her professional life. In her youth, she spent her summers working as a lifeguard at the Kiwanis Pool and as a waitress at the St. Johnsbury House. After her time as a stay-at-home mother, she returned to the workforce as the Office Manager for the law firm of Gensburg, Axelrod and Adler. Her flawless organizational skills, sharp attention to detail, positive attitude, and natural social warmth allowed her to truly shine. Rose felt a deep appreciation and pride to learn about and work within the legal system—a field her mother, Cecile, had worked in for decades as the Caledonia County Clerk. While at Gensburg, Axelrod and Adler, the law firm suffered a devastating fire, resulting in a total loss of their building as part of a tragic arson and murder that took place next door. Rose was instrumental in literally sifting through the ashes to help rebuild and relocate the firm to its current home on Main Street (Adler and McCabe). In 1991, Rose took her skills to the Littleton Coin Company. She excelled in many roles there, originally being hired as the Advertising Manager and eventually retired as the Manager of Customer Service in 2012, deeply admired, respected, and beloved by her peers.

Rose walked through life spreading pure light, constantly sharing positive thoughts, kind words, and caring gestures with anyone who needed them. She was famous for her personal catchphrases, living by and frequently sharing the comforting philosophy that "things happen for a reason"—a gentle reminder of her enduring faith and grounded perspective. When stressful situations arose that were entirely outside of her control, she could often be heard saying, “I’m not going to get my tits in a knot over it,” a humorous but wise reminder to focus on what she could control and protect her own emotional energy.

Rose was a deeply devoted wife, but she was also known for the relationships she kept with the other men in her life, including Kenny Stabler, Doug Flutie, Tom Selleck, Johnny Damon, and Tom Brady. It was no secret that the true love of her life was Rick Springfield. Rose and Rick began their 40+ year "relationship" back in the early 1980s, with Rose supporting him faithfully during his time as Dr. Noah Drake on the daytime TV drama General Hospital. The 1981 release of his album Working Class Dog, featuring the hit song “Jessie’s Girl,” was completely life-changing for both of them. Over the decades, Rose traveled to numerous performances, including one with her daughter in Saint Augustine, Florida in 2015. Rick didn’t know Rose was there, but deep down, she knew that he knew she was there. On one fateful night in August of 2018, Rose took part in a small, intimate, fan meet and greet with Rick in Essex, VT. After nearly 40 years, they were finally able to embrace in a warm hug and have their picture taken together. At this moment, her life was complete. While rumors persisted that Rose actively shoved fellow lifelong superfan Sharon Grenier out of the way to claim her "hug of destiny" first, it was an allegation Rose denied up until the time of her passing.

Rose took immense pride in her family. Her greatest joy was watching her grandchildren grow into remarkable individuals, and she never missed an opportunity to celebrate their milestones. She treasured every single moment shared with them and was endlessly proud of the people they had become. Rose loved nothing more than being surrounded by her grandkids, sharing deep laughs, and watching them thrive.

She made countless trips to Florida to watch Krystal’s kids dance, play sports, and share birthdays and holidays. She deeply cherished the memories made when they would visit Vermont in the summer, often renting a camp on one of the area’s beautiful lakes and ponds. Rose loved chasing the sunshine down south, enjoying the ocean in Florida many times a year with her daughter and grandchildren. Family trips were a cornerstone of her life; she lovingly flew down to St. Augustine, Florida, with her own mother, "Memere," to visit family. These trips were filled with unforgettable moments, including a 2006 Jacksonville Jaguars game with Memere and the grandkids, and a thrilling Monday Night Football game against the Giants where Rose and Krystal were featured on national television and even took home an official game football. Later in life, she and Alan spent five wonderful winters driving down to Flagler Beach for six weeks at a time to escape the cold, a cherished arrangement that allowed her to live just an hour away from her daughter.

Rose also looked forward to watching Jon’s children excel on the baseball or softball field, the basketball court, or the dance stage, and she absolutely loved their surprise visits to show off their trophies after a successful hunting trip. She deeply cherished her special “Mimi days” with them and looked forward to the phone calls she received from her grandsons to chat on their long drives home from college. As the ultimate cheerleader for her grandkids, Rose was never shy about bragging to anyone who would listen about their most recent achievements.

She is survived and will be profoundly missed by her daughter, Krystal Ann (Prue) Tischendorf and her husband Brian; her son, Jon Paul Prue and his wife Tara; her cherished grandchildren, Jake, Megan, Colby, Casey, and Katie; and her brother, Arthur Rainville and his wife Ida. She also leaves behind her beloved nephew, Jeff Rainville; her beloved niece, Cheryl (Rainville) Brunetti; her dear cousins, Beth Wilkins, Brenda Wilkins, and Carmen (Royer) Riggs; as well as a cherished circle of extended family and lifelong friends who will forever carry her warmth. She was predeceased by her brother, Paul Rainville, her parents, George and Cecile Rainville, and her beloved husband, Alan Crosby.

A celebration of her vibrant life will be held on Sunday, June 14, 2026, at 1 p.m., at the Tempson Barn located at 695 Town Farm Drive, Lyndonville, Vermont, 05851.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.CaledoniaLifeServices.com