DENMARK — Rose Keller, 97, of Denmark, formerly of Weymouth, Mass., passed away Saturday, March 30, 2019, at the Merriman House in North Conway, N.H.

Born Rose Baron on Sept. 18, 1921, in Dracut, Mass., she was the youngest of five children. Orphaned soon after, she was raised along with one sister by Mrs. Sweetzer of Dracut. 

Graduating with honors as an RN from Boston University during WWII, she joined the newly-formed Army Corps of Nurses in Occupied Japan. She spent three years there, and later two years during the Korean War. As a captain, she oversaw the surgery unit at Letterman Hospital on the Presidio Base in San Francisco.

On June 5, 1961, she married Gordon F. Keller, lived in Weymouth, Mass., and worked in several Boston hospitals. She retired from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where she was charge nurse in ICU. In December of 2011, Rose moved to Denmark.

Always known for her smile and cheerful willingness, Rose enjoyed mountain climbing, skiing, camping, singing, gardening and spending many vacations in Mt. Washington Valley and Denmark. She volunteered in the Senior Citizen Center in Braintree, belonged to the Happy Hikers and a group that sang at nursing homes.

One of her sisters reunited the family.

All four siblings, their spouses, and her husband Gordon predeceased Rose.

She is survived by her niece, Ann Devereux of Denmark; two nephews; and many great-nieces and nephews. 

There will be a private service and burial in Fitchburg, Mass.

Arrangements by Poitras, Neal and York Funeral Home, Cornish. Online condolences can be left at: www.mainefuneral.com