Friends and others whose lives she touched remember Tappy Roesel as “dignified,” “kind” and as a delightful woman dedicated to improving her community.
Roesel, 88, died Sunday at Ogeechee Area Hospice Inpatient Facility. During her last moments she was with her husband of 66 years, Albert, and her seven children.
Reba Barnes remembers Roesel as being “a jack of all trades” in enjoying a wide variety of activities, many of which she shared with Barnes, who befriended Roesel about 50 years ago “shortly after they moved here.”
“She loved dancing,” she recalled. Barnes taught dancing, and the two shared other interests as well, including tennis.
“I led her around and made people laugh and had fun,” she aid. “Tappy was one of the best and sweetest people I’ve ever met.”
Roesel led a fun-filled life, but also dedicated much of her time to helping others.
While living in Savannah after she married Albert, Tappy spent her time involved in leadership of the P.T.A. and her church choir. She also chaired the Savannah chapter of the National Organization for Decent Literature.
When the Roesels moved to Statesboro in 1957, she didn’t abandon her whirlwind of activity in community service. She helped create Joseph’s Home for Boys, worked with the Blitch Street Center, assisted with activities at Worn Threads, and also helped found Safe Haven, the Child Abuse Council and the Bulloch County Homeless Shelter.
One who always had a helping hand outstretched, Roesel also served on the Department of Family and Children Services board.
For her life filled with service to helping others, Roesel was honored with the Deen Day Smith Lifetime Achievement Award in 1992.
Her work did not interfere with having fun with friends, however. One of her accomplishments with Barnes included winning a state senior doubles tennis title.
“Tappy always thought the best about everyone,” Barnes said. “She is one of the kindest people I have ever met. There couldn’t be a lovelier pair than she and Albert.”
In a letter recently written, Ric Mandes described Roesel as “dashing” and as having dignity.
“I will remember her dashing figure on the tennis court as she and husband, Albert, went at it,” he said.
Mary Ann Morris recalls Roesel as being “so exuberant about everything. The whole family and I were very close.”
Roesel was “full of life and loved everybody,” she said. “She was always going 90 to nothing and put her whole self into what she was doing,” she recalled. “She went 100 percent all the way. She did not know what it was to do anything halfway.”
Roesel is survived by husband Albert and her children: Albert Jr., Richard, Rosalyn, Christopher, Paul, Philip and Gregory. She also had 16 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Roesel will be held today at 3 p.m. at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church. Burial will be in Eastside Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions may be made to Joseph’s Home for Boys, 3400 Cypress Lake Road, Statesboro, Ga. 30458; Ogeechee Area Hospice, P.O. Box 531, Statesboro, Ga. 30459; or to Safe Haven, P.O. Box 2494, Statesboro, Ga. 30459.