Rosemarie Veronika Rohrscheib

Rosemarie Veronika Rohrscheib, known as Keky to her family and Veronika or Rosie to her friends, was born January 12, 1941, in Krakow, Poland, and died peacefully at Franciscan Hospice House, University Place, Washington, September 17, 2024, surrounded by family.  Her early years were spent with her family in Germany before they relocated to the United States in 1948 to reside in Washington DC. 

In 1950 her mother Rosemarie (Klitsch), known as Mutti, and her father Vincent Farrera, known as Opi, along with her sister Christina (Tina), moved the family to College Park, Maryland.  Veronika graduated from High Point High School in 1959.  Upon graduation, she attended Strayer Business College and worked as an executive secretary at the Statler Hilton, Washington DC.  She was formally married to William Manning the father of her children Elizabeth (Bethy)  and Julia (Julie). Subsequent moves found the family residing in South Mills and Elizabeth City, North Carolina where Veronika began a long career with the Camden County School District. She worked in the classroom setting and in the district office where she was a testing administrator, computer specialist and in her later years the executive assistant to the assistant superintendent of schools.  She retired from her career in education in 2003.  On June 28, 2003, she married retired US Navy Commander James (Jim) Rohrscheib at Christ Episcopal Church, Elizabeth City, North Carolina.  Shortly after the wedding, Veronika and Jim set out on a cross-country road trip to her new home on Bainbridge Island. Not long after Jim introduced her to international cruising.  

After her initial cruise to Iceland, Norway, Great Britain, and Ireland she was hooked!  Subsequently, she cruised 42 times while visiting all seven continents, 83 independent nations, and 17 territorial possessions.  Veronika loved her new home on Bainbridge Island and quickly joined Bethany Lutheran Church and the Bainbridge Island Senior Community Center where for a number of years she was co-manager of the thrift store and a member of the senior center Board.   

Veronika is survived by her husband Jim of Bainbridge Island, sister Christina Farrera of College Park, Maryland, daughters Elizabeth Rose (George) of Beaufort, North Carolina, and Julia Barefoot (Torrey) of Raleigh, North Carolina, stepson Michael Rohrscheib (Monica) of Milwaukie, Oregon, grandchildren George III, Corbin, Ellie, Vince, and step-granddaughter Scarlet. A big hug and special thank you to the doctors and nurses at St. Michael Medical Center and the loving-kindness of the invaluable caregivers at Franciscan Hospice and Palliative Care.  

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM, October 16 at Bethany Lutheran Church, 7968 Finch Road, Bainbridge Island, Washington.  A follow-on memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM, November 11 at St Paul's Episcopal Church, Beaufort, North Carolina.  

Contributions to Bethany Lutheran Church and CHI Franciscan Hospice, 2901 Bridgeport Way W, University Place, Washington 98466 in memory of Veronika are encouraged.  

Arrangements entrusted to Cook Family Funeral Home of Bainbridge Island, WA.