Rosalie “Rosie” Russo-Tiesse McDowell, the second daughter of Una and Leon Russo-Tiesse was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on February 27, 1929. Rosie resided in New Orleans before moving to Violet, Louisiana in 1978. Hurricane Katrina had other plans for her, so she relocated to Destrehan, Louisiana in 2006. Her final residence was in the caring hands of Ormond Nursing Home beginning in September of 2016 until God called her home on December 5, 2017. She is preceded in death by her siblings Antonina “Nina” Long and Joseph “Joe” Russo-Tiesse, Sr.
Rosie was a lifelong Catholic and a graduate of Annunciation High School. She married Harley Ray McDowell (deceased 1999) in December of 1947. They were married for over 50 years and had four children, Barbara Ann, Linda Marie, Lloyd Thomas (Tommy) and Theresa Lynn. Rosie and Ray’s family continued to grow as Barbara married Phillip Barrios, Tommy married Regina Couture and Theresa married Steven Showalter and later Brian Ulicsni.
She enjoyed soap operas, sitcoms and playing bingo, but she especially enjoyed family gatherings with her grandchildren. Maw Maw Rosie will be sadly missed by her grandson Phillip Barrios, Jr. and wife Kelly with their girls Madelyn and Olivia, granddaughter Robyn Barrios and David Bridges with their son Addison, granddaughter April Hagadone and her husband Dale with their children Maya, Landyn and Dominick, grandson Steven Showalter, Jr., granddaughter Shannon McDowell and Jason Peltz with their son Ian, granddaughter Emily Rose and Stratton Ramey with their girls Harley Rose and Hazel, granddaughter Gabrielle McDowell and her daughter Ainsley, and grandson Cailub Couture.
A celebration of her life will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 2621 Colonial Boulevard in Violet, Louisiana on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, with visitation to begin at 11:00 a.m. followed by Mass at 1:30 p.m. Burial will be immediately following at St. Bernard Memorial Gardens. To view and sign the family guestbook, please visit www.stbernardmemorial.com.
