Rev. Carol Rosine Lived with Cancer for 4 Years, Supported by Family, Friends, Congregation

Rev. Carol Rosine died on August 12, 2021 at the age of 77, after living with lung cancer for almost four years. She was the minister of the First Universalist Society in Franklin for 29 years prior to retiring in 2016. While on hospice for the past several months, her loving family, friends, and congregants cared for her, cooked for her, and stayed with her day and night, allowing her to die peacefully in her home.

Rev. Rosine was born to Betty and Louis Gethmann in Kanawha, Iowa in 1943. Her family was active in the Methodist church. She was always a good student in school and was valedictorian of her graduating class. Rev. Rosine’s first career was as a registered nurse, working in the fields of obstetrics and geriatrics. A post-graduate program in obstetrics brought her from Iowa to the Boston Lying-in Hospital. It was here that she met, and then married Brian Egan. They divorced in 1992. They have 2 children together, Kathleen Egan Kassay and Rev. Dave Egan.

It was her move out to the East Coast where she discovered Unitarian Universalism. While living in Manchester, CT, she and her family were very active at the UU church there, UUS:East. She was President of the congregation when the property was purchased and the meetinghouse was constructed. The whole congregation cleared the land, planted trees, helped pour cement and did all the finishing work on the building themselves. Rev. Rosine became very active with the UU feminist movement and held various leadership roles over the years. Eventually she received the call into ministry; she returned back to school to get a B.A. in English, and then her M.Div. from Andover Newton Theological School.

Rev. Rosine’s first settled position was when she came to Franklin in 1987 as an extension minister with a mandate to help this historic Unitarian Universalist congregation grow, and grow they did! They went from a tiny congregation to the mid-sized congregation they are today. They were homeless when Rev. Rosine arrived and for the first thirteen years of her ministry they met for worship and religious education on the Dean College campus. After a period of time they bought property on Chestnut St. and built the FUSF campus that exists today. During her 29 year ministry, she provided leadership in a variety of progressive social justice issues, including anti-racism and LGBTQIA+ causes. She also had an uncanny ability to persuade her congregants to go outside of their comfort zones in service of the congregation; a practice known as “being Caroled”.

Starting in the late 1970’s, Ferry Beach, a UU retreat and conference center in Saco, Maine, has been a second home to Rev. Rosine and her family. This sacred place has a beautiful beach, a wooded campground, and an outdoor chapel in the pines. Because of Rev. Rosine, the FUSF congregation now attends a weekend retreat in May every year and her family continues to camp every summer.

Rev. Rosine was also known for her baking skills; her homemade cinnamon rolls often fetched a high price at the church auction, and are a family favorite on Christmas morning. Rev. Rosine loved spending time with her family, and her 3 granddaughters were the loves of her life!

Rev. Rosine is survived by her two children, Kathleen Kassay (David Kassay) of Norfolk, MA; and Rev. Dave Egan (Karina Lund) of Quincy, MA; three granddaughters, Lexi Kassay, Lyla Egan, and Maya Egan; nephew Dwight Kalvig (Sandy Kalvig) of Blackduck MN, and nieces Dawn Kalvig of Winsted, MN and Beth Carol of Virginia, MN. Rev Rosine was predeceased by her sister, Doris Kalvig (Al Kalvig) of Blackduck MN, her nephew Ken Kalvig (Rhonda Kalvig) of Kalispell MT, her and her parents Louis and Betty Gethmann of Bemidji, MN.

A Celebration of Life Service will take place on Saturday, October 9th at 2:00pm at the First Universalist Society in Franklin 262 Chestnut St. Franklin, MA. The service will also be streamed online for anyone who is not able to be there in-person. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions to two beloved organizations close to Rev. Rosine’s heart: Ferry Beach Retreat and Conference Center www.ferrybeach.org, or First Universalist Society of Franklin www.fusf.org .

Arrangements are under the care of the Ginley Funeral Home of Franklin