Charlton: Rose Marie (Sandrick) Hartman, 76, passed away on Saturday, March 16th, in her home at The Overlook Retirement Community in Charlton after a short illness.

Her husband of 54 years, Lee W. Hartman, passed away a year ago this March.  She leaves her two daughters, Danielle Bennett and her husband Brett of Connecticut, and Jennifer Hartman and her husband David Marble of Massachusetts; her three brothers, Milt Sandrick and his wife Veva of Kansas, Louie Sandrick and his wife Sherry of Michigan, and Fr. Philip "Pat" Sandrick of New York; her sister, Dorothy Furragganan of California; and her two grandchildren, Linnea Bennett and Rowan Marble.  She was born in Detroit, MI, the daughter of the late Louis and Katherine (Maslak) Sandrick.

Rose grew up in the nearby suburb of Garden City, the oldest of five, and often helped her mother around the house and with her siblings. The family were devout Byzantine Catholics and deeply involved in their community at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Byzantine Church. It was there she began to grow a profound and quiet faith that she held throughout her life. Rose attended parochial schools, including a girl's boarding school run by the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate (SSMI) in Sloatsburg, NY, and then graduated from Garden City High.

Over her lifetime Rose worked or volunteered in many jobs, one of her first being at The Aetna in Detroit, where she met Lee. They married in 1968, and she became a loving wife and soon a devoted mother as she and Lee moved their young family to New England. She was an integral part of St. Bernard's Church in Enfield, CT, where she and her family belonged for many years, helping with Marriage Encounter and various committees, and later working in both the associated parochial school and rectory. Throughout this time she also steadfastly supported her daughters and was "second mom" to many of their friends.

After Lee was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Rose remained by his side as his wife, and, over time, a patient caregiver as well. They spent some years living on Cape Cod – Rose adored walking along beaches – before moving to central MA, first to Millbury and then Charlton, to be closer to her grandchildren. Being a grandmother brought her the most joyous moments of her life, and she loved nothing more than being snuggled up next to them sharing a book or looking over their latest artwork.

Almost always found with a book close at hand, Rose had a lifetime love of reading and learning. She passed that on not only to her own children and grandchildren, but to countless others through both her work in libraries and her over ten years of volunteering at the Old Sturbridge Village. She and Lee loved to travel together, explore museums, and support the arts.

Rose was cherished for her kindness to all and for the unconditional love she had for her family and friends. She always seemed to know everyone by name, was a wonderful listener, polite to a fault but also quick to laugh. She made friends quickly and often, and she kept them over the years. As she struggled with health concerns over the last years of her life, healthcare staff would often pronounce her their favorite patient, and comment on the outpouring of love and support that surrounded her. It was her simply receiving back what she had put out into the world.

A funeral Mass for Rose will be held on Saturday, April 20th, at 10:45AM in St. Joseph's Church, 10 H. Putnam Rd. Ext., Charlton.  Burial in the Fort Devens Post Cemetery, Devens, will be held at the convenience of the family.  Calling hours in the Church will be held on Saturday, April 20th, from 10:00 to 10:45AM, prior to the Mass.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in her memory to www.heifer.org or www.worldvision.org

The Daniel T. Morrill Funeral Home, 130 Hamilton St., Southbridge, is directing arrangements.