Gertrude "Trudy" A. Rossiter

 Gertrude (Trudy) Allen Rossiter

1927 - 2021

Trudy Rossiter passed away peacefully at Crosslands/Firbank in Kennett Square, PA in the early morning hours of August 1, 2021, after a long illness.  She was born on August 17, 1927, daughter of Leonard and Marjorie Rautenberg of Buffalo, NY.  She graduated from Buffalo Seminary and attended Lesley College in Cambridge MA, majoring in elementary education, after which she worked as a teacher for several years in Martha’s Vineyard before meeting returning WWII veteran Charles Thomas Allen, Jr. at a summer Christian retreat in New Hampshire, whom she married in 1949.  “Chuck” and “Trudy” settled in Wilmington, Delaware, where Chuck worked for the DuPont Company as a research scientist.  They raised a family in Wilmington before making a move to Chester County, Pennsylvania in 1963.  Throughout her adult life, Trudy was an avid contributor to church and community service.  She worked as a private math and reading tutor, a piano teacher, and Church organist, and she volunteered as a Girl Scout Troop Leader, Red Cross Volunteer, Coordinator and Financial Controller for the Crosslands Residents Association and Treasurer for the Crosslands Sunflower Shop.  She worked as a Stephen Minister, archivist, and chorister for the Westminster Presbyterian Church, in West Chester, PA.  She was a passionate gardener, musician, bridge enthusiast, and computer guru. 

Trudy is predeceased by her parents and husband, Charles, and by her second husband, Stanley Rossiter, whom she met and married in 1997 as a resident of Crosslands.  She is survived by her sister Barbara Baker, by her three children and their spouses: Susan Allen Caldwell (and husband John Caldwell) of West Chester, PA, Thomas Eugene Allen (and wife Roberta Stiehm) of Takoma Park, MD, and Jesse Kendall Allen (and wife Sherry Pedicone) of Kennett Square, PA.  She is also survived by five grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren, and a number of nieces and nephews.  

Donations can be made in Trudy’s name to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. 

The children express their profound gratitude to the staff at Crosslands, and to the loving care of Willow Tree Hospice.

Visitation with the family will be from 2:00PM until 3:00PM with a memorial service at 3:00PM on Saturday, August 28, 2021 at the LONGWOOD FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION of MATTHEW GENEREUX, 913 East Baltimore Pike, Kennett Square.

Burial in London Grove Burial Grounds will be private.

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