Alta "Rosie" Rockwell
June 25th, 1929 - May 5th, 2026
Anatomy Gifts Registry
Alta Marie Rose was born on June 25, 1929 on the family farm on Preemption Rd in
Dundee, Yates County, NY with a twin, Alton, who did not survive. Another son,
her younger brother, soon was born and was also named Alton. She was the
daughter of Myrtal 'Merton' Charles Rose and Viola Emma Florance.
Rosie grew up on the family farm on PreEmption Road in Dundee, graduating from
Dundee Central School in 1946, the youngest in her class. She studied violin,
clarinet, and bassoon under the direction of Joseph Greyback. She was active in
all sports throughout her high school years. As drum major, she led the Dundee
Central School marching band for many Memorial Day parades. As head varsity
cheerleader, many games were won by the Dundee Central School basketball team.
Alta was very proud of her association with the Robert Packer School of Nursing
class of 1950 and her long and strong friendships with her classmates. She
played basketball for the “Bobbies” (named for Robert Packer). She enjoyed
working with Dr. Donald Guthrie. Alta received her RN from Mansfield University,
Allentown General Hospital, Genesee State Teachers College, and Robert Packer
Hospital. She was awarded the Miss Congeniality Medal. She was the 1000th nurse
to graduate, hence called ‘Miss 1000th’.
Alta was a volunteer in many different organizations in Corning; as a Girl Scout
Leader, Nurse at Red Cross blood drives, PTA at Northside Junior High School,
the Gideons, Registered Nurse at Corning Area Bible Club Camp, and in her church
working in the nursery and as secretary for AWANA. She drove many to the voting
booths for elections in Corning (and she never asked for whom they were voting!)
She enjoyed a 50-year career in the nursing field beginning with the Bath
Veterans Administration Hospital through 1957, Corning Hospital, Steuben County
Public Health Nurse, and Private Duty Nursing for Mrs. George MacBeth, Harry
Hoosier, Edward J. Smith, Alice Pond, and Norman Phelps. Alta was caregiver to
many – even after retirement - with those at Village Square Apartments.
She kept up with many friends including the Class of 1946 Dundee Central School
groups and never missed an Alumni Banquet from the Robert Packer Hospital Nurses
Association.
She will be remembered for her commitment to her family and friends, her
selflessness & undying love for her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren
and great-great grandchild.
She had a good sense of humor and will be missed by many.
Rosie married Clifford Laverne Rockwell on July 31, 1954, in an outdoor wedding
on the Florance/Rose family farm in Dundee.
Rosie and her husband ‘Rocky’ ran Rockwell Realty for many years in Corning. She
moved to Baldwinsville, NY in 2024 to live with her daughter, Susan. She very
much enjoyed the Canton Woods Senior Center and the Baldwinsville Community
Band, which serenaded her with a special ‘Happy Birthday” for her 96th.
She was a longtime member of North Baptist Church in Corning and the Central
Baptist Church in East Corning. She was a saved person and anticipated joyfully
‘moving’ to heaven to be with Jesus.
She died on May 5, 2026, in Syracuse, New York, at the age of 96.
Rosie was predeceased by all her siblings: Richard Norman Rose, Eleanor Lorraine
Rose Green, (the first) Alton, and Alton Merton Rose. Her husband, Clifford
Laverne Rockwell, died on 2 Oct 1999.
Rosie was a helper all of her life as well as a nurse, so she donated her body,
‘a house she had moved out of’, as an anatomical gift. Her ashes will be
returned and be buried with her husband in Cooper’s Plains Cemetery at a later
date.
Family includes children, Susan Austin of Baldwinsville, NY, Terri Austin
(Daniel), of Corning. Grandchildren are Benjamin Rockwell Austin (Ginger), of
Amelia, OH, Elisabeth Rose Austin of Sumter, SC, Caleb Philip Austin (Jenny) of
Richland, NY, and Catherine ‘Katie’ Mary Spiller (Brandon) of Searsburg, VT.
Great-Grandchildren are Brianna Mauro-Richards, Kylie DeMello, Amelia, Henry and
Lucy Austin , and Tobias and Ruth Spiller. One great-great granddaughter, Sylvia
Mauro-Richards.
Donations may be made to any of Central Baptist Church, 11791 E Corning Rd,
Corning, NY 14830, Baldwinsville Community Band, in care of Claire Genett,
Treasurer, 116 Oswego ST, apt 5, Baldwinsville, NY 13027, Corning Area Bible
Club Camp (https://corningareabibleclub.org/donate-now/), or Canton Woods Senior
Center, 76 Canton St, Baldwinsville, NY 13027. All these organizations had a
special place in her heart.
A Memorial Service will be held on July18, 2026 at Central Baptist Church, 11791
East Corning Rd, Corning, New York 14830 at 11am with meal following for all.
Publication date: May 13th, 2026