Rose Bertrand

MADISON - Rose Marie Leona Wnek Bertrand, age 72, of Madison, passed away on July 9th, 2015.

Rose Marie was born on the south side of Chicago, to Bernice (Zajac) Wnek Miller and Joseph Wnek on March 20, 1943. Rose Marie attended St. Roman's grammar school, Our Lady of Good Counsel grammar school and Visitation High School in Chicago and moved to Madison at age 17 to attend Edgewood College. Rose Marie attended UW-Madison for graduate school, where she met the love of her life, Michael Bertrand. Rose Marie and Michael married at St. Paul's University Catholic Center in Madison on August 29th, 1970.

Rose Marie graduated from Edgewood in 1964 with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and a Minor in Chemistry. During graduate school at UW-Madison, Rose Marie studied Zoology and the History of Science. After having her first daughter, Lydia, in 1977, Rose Marie became involved in the Cesarean Prevention Movement and started a local chapter of what is now called International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN). Rose Marie became a birth doula in 1978, which was the beginning of a lifelong passion for providing birth assistance. Rose Marie was a charter member of Doulas of South Central Wisconsin, and the co-founder and director of Small Miracles Volunteer Doula Program. As Rose Marie said, being a doula was not a job for her, rather it was a joy. Rose Marie attended 309 births as a doula.

In addition to being a powerful force of birth advocacy in action, Rose Marie was a proud liberal, feminist, environmentalist, vegan, and social justice activist.

In 2006, Rose Marie received a Certificate of Appreciation for her contributions to the students of Affiliated Alternatives through the Madison Metropolitan School District. In 2008, Rose Marie was nominated for the Our Bodies, Ourselves Women's Health Hero Award. In 2009, Rose Marie received the Healthcare Award from the Madison Breastfeeding Promotion Network. In 2012, Rose Marie was a recipient of the Jefferson Award for her work with Small Miracles.

Rose Marie is survived by her beloved husband, Michael; her two daughters, Lydia, of Mission, TX and Eve, of Madison, WI; Lydia's husband, Mike, and Rose Marie's three grandchildren, Parzival, Violet and Marie, of Mission, TX. Rose Marie is also survived by her two older sisters, Barbara Read and Phyllis Ficht, of Clearwater, FL.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Goodman Community Center on Sunday, August 2nd, at 2pm.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Small Miracles Volunteer Doula Program (contact corrinamueller@yahoo.com for details).

Cress Funeral and Cremation Service
3325 E. Washington Ave
Madison, WI 53704
608-249-6666