Rosalie Master, wife, mother, and musician, passed on
quietly in the early morning hours of March 11th 2015 into
adulthood. She is thirty years old.
The day was March 11th, 1985. Mikhail Gorbachev
was appointed de facto leader of the Soviet Union, while Mohamed Al-Fayed
purchased the London-based department store company Harrods. Elsewhere, in Whittier
California, Rosalie Munden was born.
Rosalie led a simple, fairly normal childhood in the town of
Apple Valley. During her formative years she had several life defining moments.
One of those moments was visiting Disneyland at the age of eight. Though her
parents were going through a divorce at the time, and she got lost at one point
while exploring the magic kingdom, it became a light in a time of confusion and
sadness. Thus began a lifelong obsession that she would share with family and
friends, and eventually pass down to her own children.
Music drew Rosalie in at an early age. She recalls playing
around on her babysitter’s piano when she was in kindergarten. Another girl was
taking lessons at the time, and she started exploring her lesson books, hungry
for the music that was already brewing inside her. In fourth grade, Rosalie
learned how to read the treble clef in band class. She played the flute. Music
became a sixth sense to Rosalie and throughout her life. Between lessons, band,
and choir Rosalie developed her skills focusing mainly on piano and voice. She
has been a part of many musical ensembles from her early years as a Phat Cat
Sw!nger to A Penny A Kiss, an Andrews Sisters tribute band.
Her love for music extends to musical theater. Rosalie is a
self-branded Broadway geek and has seen many incredible shows from California
to the New York Island. She recently saw her favorite show, Wicked, for the
fifth time, and it’s estimated that through her lifetime she will see it at
least a dozen more times. Not only does she love to watch, she loves to perform
in shows, her favorite roles being Ado Annie from Oklahoma and Mayzie from
Seussical the Musical. Both characters are flirtatious and vivacious, not
unlike Rosalie.
.
Rosalie’s life would change forever when she was sixteen
years old and met Michael Mastaler. Michael and Rosalie were in the same
seminary class, but he wouldn’t formally introduce himself until she attended
one of his baseball games. Rosalie was dating one of Michael’s teammates at the
time but before long Michael would sweep her off her feet and they would be inseparable.
The relationship ran its course and as most angst filled youthful romances go,
it ended. They went their separate ways. Michael left to Tennessee to serve a
two year mission and Rosalie ventured to New York to become a nanny.
Ever the adventurer, Rosalie thrived in New York. She met
many friends, ate street meat, saw shows on Broadway, and explored to her
hearts content. When the time came for her to return home to Apple Valley
Rosalie wasn’t ready to give up her travels. She signed up for the International
Language Program to teach English in Russia.
Things were not all smooth sailing, however. As Rosalie
prepared to leave for Russia, Michael returned home from his mission. The two
quickly rekindled their romance (in Hawaii no less) and decided that they
wanted to make their relationship eternal. Resolutely, Rosalie left for Russia,
knowing in her heart it was the right thing to do but missing him every step of
her journey.
Her six months in Russia passed quickly as she taught the
Russian children. She enjoyed many new cultural experiences, and her sun-kissed
California skin somehow survived the coldest winter Moscow experienced in over
eighty years, though ice was not her friend. She traveled across Europe
visiting Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Holland, and France. Her
time in Russia both fulfilled and fueled her love of travel. Tolkien wrote that
not all who wandered are lost and though she traveled the world her feet were
firmly planted. (This is the part where I add that Rosalie met Melissa Marsden
in Russia. Melissa had also left her beloved behind, and while they didn’t know
it then, they were forging a friendship that would last a lifetime and beyond.
Not only did they have a lot in common, Melissa was gorgeous and talented, so
it was obvious to see why Rosalie would be drawn to her).
She returned to California and to her Michael and hours upon
returning to the United States he would propose on one knee in her beloved
Disneyland. On August 12th 2006 they were sealed for time and all
eternity in the San Diego temple. Life couldn’t be more perfect.
Those early years of marriage were busy and happy. Rosalie
took a job with the town of Apple Valley. She also started teaching private
piano and voice lessons. Michael went through the Police Academy and began his
career as an officer for the city of Rialto. She also participated in local
musical theater. They bought a home and moved to Hesperia.
It wasn’t long before Rosalie and Michael wanted to start a
family. After two years of hoping and praying Rosalie and Michael welcomed
their first son, Hunter Michael to their family. As it turned out, marriage and
motherhood would prove to be Rosalie’s greatest adventure. Rosalie quit her job
for the town of Apple Valley in order to be a stay at home mother to Hunter,
though she continued teaching music. Motherhood doesn’t come easy for anyone,
but Rosalie embraced every challenge. She was so grateful for the opportunity
to be a mother and rose to every challenge. She was then, and is now, her
children’s greatest champion.
In January 2012 during a routine doctor’s visit to confirm
the gender of their second child, Elle, Rosalie and Michael were devastated to
learn that their daughter had Turner Syndrome, a chromosomal defect that would
claim her life. Rosalie was told that the chances of Elle’s survival to birth
were extremely slim. She was given the choice to terminate the pregnancy or to
let Elle pass naturally. The choice was difficult. She asked herself if her
baby was in pain, if she was at risk physically, if she would be able to cope
emotionally. In an act of pure faith, Rosalie decided to give Elle every
possible chance for life. To carry Elle until Father in Heaven decided to take
her home. A few grueling weeks later an
ultrasound revealed that Elle had passed, and on January 31st 2012
Rosalie bravely delivered her stillborn daughter.
Rosalie’s grief at the passing of her daughter was absolute,
yet she found eternal hope in the atonement of Jesus Christ and the plan of
salvation. It was through that hope that she was able to continue as a wife and
a mother and a teacher though her heart was broken. It was through that hope
that she decided to bring another child into their family. On June 5th
2013 Cade Porter joined the Mastaler family. He brought with him the joy that
all new babies bring, however, the joy was felt more deeply because of the
sorrow that had been her constant companion. Cade also brought healing, and
though Rosalie would miss her daughter all her life Cade was a miracle that
renewed and rejuvenated her.
Rosalie, now a mother of two energetic boys worked from son
up to son down. She busied herself doing the things she loved most: teaching
and playing music (she now had more private students than ever before and was
also teaching Kindermusic from her home), planning elaborate events for and
with the people she loved, starting and performing with A Penny A Kiss, keeping
up with her long distance best friends over the phone, and of course being a
wife and a mother. Rosalie supported Michael while he earned his bachelor’s
degree. Rosalie was a hard worker. She did what she loved and loved what she
did. Nearly every aspect of her life was pinterest worthy, from the parties she
orchestrated to the homemade crafts she created to decorate her home. The
Mastalers enjoyed family weddings, trips to Disneyland, and a Disney cruise.
Life rolled along pleasantly and time ebbed away.
Unfortunately, as indicative of her past, the final hour of
Rosalie’s youth culminated in tragedy. On
February 8th, 2015 Hunter
was seriously injured in an accident involving Jango, Michael’s police dog.
Time stood still as Hunter was treated in the hospital. Rosalie prayed
fervently, and implored all those close to her to pray for Hunter, to pray that
his foot would be saved. Regrettably, this was not to be. The thousands of
prayers offered in behalf of Hunter were heard, but the answer received was a
trial Rosalie couldn’t imagine. Hunter’s foot could not be saved, despite the
valiant efforts of the surgeons and other medical professionals. In her darkest
hours, Rosalie didn’t turn angrily away from God. Her faith was not shaken.
Rather, she turned to God and begged for the strength she and her family would
need to continue onward, and onward they go.
The nature of the tragedy caused a community to pull
together in support of the Mastalers. Friends and strangers rallied behind them
offering assistance of every kind. The response was overwhelming but not
surprising. Rosalie’s constant friendship and consistent devotion to those who
are in her life inspire people to give and serve. It was as much a reflection
on Rosalie’s character as the scope of the tragedy that the support was
given.
If this were an actual eulogy, I suppose at her funeral it
would be fitting to sing the hymn Press Forward Saints:
Press forward, Saints, with steadfast faith
in Christ,
With hope’s bright flame alight in heart and
mind,
With love of God and love of all mankind.
Press forward, feasting on the word of
Christ.
Receive his name, rejoicing in his might.
Come unto God; find everlasting light.
Press on, enduring in the ways of Christ.
His love proclaim thru days of mortal
strife.
Thus saith our God: “Ye have eternal life!”
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Fortunately, this obituary is merely a symbol of
Rosalie’s passing youth. The passing of Rosalie’s youth is marked in celebration,
rather than sorrow, for the wisest of us knows that growing older is a
privilege. This is simply a new beginning. The start of a brand new adventure
for the bravest of explorers. At her core, Rosalie is compassion and snark.
Empathy and sarcasm. Comedy and tragedy. Beauty and pain. The perfect
combination of trepidation and courage. That is the thing. Rosalie’s life has
proven to be a thing of beauty peppered with personal tragedy. Rosalie isn’t
and never will be defined by the tragedies that have befallen her, rather, she
is defined by her strength and resilience in the face of those trials.
So happy thirtieth birthday, dear Rosalie. Your
steadfastness in every aspect of your life in times of happiness and mourning
inspire friends and strangers alike. May your next thirty years bring as much
beauty (and none of the sorrow) as the last thirty years.
Love,
Melissa
