Rosena Marie “Cookie Lady” Lankford, 89, Holland

Rosena Marie “Cookie Lady” Lankford, 89, of Holland, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 2, 2017, at the Northwood Good Samaritan Retirement Community in Jasper.

She was born to Gustave and Olinda (Hemmer) Broeker on December 15, 1927, in Selvin, Indiana; and married Chester Lee Lankford on April 13, 1946.

Rosena lived every moment of her life with passion and all that she did, she did with love. Her greatest success in life was her ability to love. She loved and was loved more than can be described through mere words. As a wife to Chester, as a mother to five daughters, as a grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother, she lived her life for her family.

Rosena was a lifelong member of the Holland United Methodist Church, where she was active in the United Methodist Youth Fellowship and Kids in Christ program; she participated in the P.T.A., Quilters Group, Feedsacking Club, March of Dimes and Alzheimer’s Association. She loved to bake for her family. A friend asked if she would sell some of her cookies and coffee cakes, she agreed and it started a passion which lasted for over 50 years.

Her seamstress career spanned over 60 years, most notably recognized for creating the Holland United Methodist Youth Choir robes, the Holland High School Marching Band uniforms, and thousands of clothing items for area residents.

She had a passion for serving others and did so by caring for the elderly for many years. Rosena enjoyed gardening. She always had beautiful flowers and vegetables to share. It is impossible to capture her life in a few paragraphs. She was so much – she did so much – she is loved so much.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Chester Lankford, who died July 18, 1987; her husband’s parents; one daughter, Jacquelyn Keeper; one grandson, Keith Rogers; and three sisters, Emma Lou Miles, Josephine Shipman, and Zelpha who died in infancy.

Rosena is survived by four loving daughters, Linda (Howard) Snyder of Terre Haute, Nancy Kelley of Huntingburg, Judy (Gary) Gilliat of Pendleton, and Mary (David) Carrico of Huntingburg; one sister, Henrietta Stephens of Jasper; by 14 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services for Rosena Lankford will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, October 6, 2017, at the Nass & Son Funeral Home in Huntingburg with burial in the Holland Methodist Cemetery. The Reverend Wayne Nichols will officiate.

Friends may call for visitation at the Nass & Son Funeral Home from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday. Memorial contributions can be made to Heartland Cardiology, Heart to Heart Hospice, or to a local charity for the benefit of children.

Condolences may be shared online at www.nassandson.com.