Friday – Sunday, August 12-14, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., 33 Bonnie Brae Road
— by Cara Russell —
“I can remember my grandmother using this little pitcher. –Lois, 1983″ reads a handwritten note, gently folded into a 100 year-old pitcher. The note was written by Lois Rodabaugh, to her young daughter, RoseAnn. And the pitcher was just one item of hundreds that Lois gave to RoseAnn and future husband, Christopher Dolan.
RoseAnn and Chris first met in a diner in Portland, two years prior. Born three months apart, to the day, Chris still smiles when he tells how he married an “older woman.” When they met she was working as a waitress, he, a customer. She was intrigued (or perhaps just terribly attracted) to him. So, she told the host to seat him in her section.
Chris, however, was interested in something else—watching the Portland Trailblazers vs the Boston Celtics. Against the urging of the host, he sat himself near the fireplace, near the television, and not in her section. “She kept serving me food and drinks, kept standing in front of the TV.”
RoseAnn, the fifth born of seven children, grew up in Bluffton Ohio, to a methodist family in the Mennonite community. Her parents were Dr. Franklin Rodabaugh, a medic in China during WWII, and her mother, Lois, Dean at Bluffton College. Throughout their lives, her parents inherited and acquired many things from trips to China, after the war. Eventually RoseAnn and Chris inherited a house full of furniture, nicknacks, and antiques when they moved in to their first home together.
In 1992, they moved to Orcas Island, and brought EVERYTHING they owned with them. It was here on Orcas where RoseAnn made her final home, and many dear friends who. She threw herself in to the community, and often triple booked her commitments. “It’s like her soul knew she wouldn’t be here long, because she did so much while she was here.”
Since RoseAnn’s passing in 2010, most of her collections has been stored, waiting. There’s a hutch made by her great, great grandfather, a dining room table with seven leaves, and oak clawfoot table, which RoseAnn grew up eating breakfast on, while sitting on chairs made in Bluffton, with cane weavings. “There’s an eclectic mix of things, from three big tubs of yarn, to crystals, and even boxes that haven’t been opened in 42 years.”
In the next year, their youngest child will be finishing high school. Chris is now planning to simplifying his life to a place where he can fit everything he owns in to his car, and be ready for what comes next.
The Dolan’s will be holding the RoseAnn Estate Sale this weekend. “I’d like to see these things go to someone who appreciates and will use them again.”
The Estate Sale will be at the Dolan Family Home (RoseAnn, Christopher, Zach, and Adia) 33 Bonnie Brae Road, August 12-14, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. There is sure to be something for everyone, from antiques like a Jewel Tea 200 piece China Set, to household necessities. Following RoseAnn’s will, Chris will be giving a portion of the money earned at the Estate sale towards their two children.
There are strong memories tied in with the objects we collect throughout our lives. When we let them go it can be both heart-rending and heartwarming. A crystal can be cleansed by the rays of the sun and moonlight, or bathed in salt water to start anew. Chris already has the best of RoseAnn to take with him and it fits into something even smaller than his car.
RoseAnn was a wonderful human being. She and others were regulars in our home after my late husband had his leg amputated due to Diabetes. She was kind and had such a soothing voice. She knew that as my husband’s health had started to decline I had developed high blood pressure, and one day she had time to give me a brief massage, taking my blood pressure before and after. Of course after the massage it was greatly improved. She helped keep our spirits up. One might even compare her to an angel here on earth to make others feel better. She was that bright light in the day when other things weren’t going so well. All of us who knew her were truly blessed. I hope the estate sale is very successful for her family.
Ginny Reagles – Olga