Rose Marie Essex (nee Blandford) of Accokeek, MD passed away at the age of 72 on January 5, 2025 at her home.

Rose was born on July 17, 1952 in Washington, DC to the late James V. and Jo Aileen Blandford. She is predeceased by her husband, Joseph A. Essex.

She is survived by her son, Joseph (Saba) Essex; daughters, Jennifer (Travis) Johnson, Lori (Jonathan) Holloran, and Terri (Eric) Kerth; brother, John Blandford; and sister, Mary Mccassie. She is also survived by six beloved grandchildren with another on the way. Rose was a nurturing mother to all and will be missed dearly.

Rose graduated Oxon Hill High School in 1970 and then attended St. Mary's College. She was a part of the first graduating class at the College of Southern Maryland and became a Registered Nurse (RN). Rose worked at Southern Maryland Hospital and Calvert Memorial Hospital, where she was a Diabetic Nurse Educator. Rose loved caring for others and received numerous awards for her work, including the Maryland Nurses Association 2006 Nurse of the Year and 2012 Outstanding Nurse Educator awards. She retired in 2015 after receiving Calvert Memorial Hospital's Employee of the Year award. For over a decade, Rose co-owned Nightingales Café and Catering in Southern Maryland. She was an avid traveler who loved visiting new places and meeting new people. She saw numerous countries in Europe, Middle East, North Africa, and Latin America, as well as many travels in the US.

Rose also demonstrated her affection for others through feeding them. Her home, built by her late husband in 1962, was the hub for family, neighbors, and friends. She poured her love and energy into the picturesque house and garden, welcoming all visitors. She loved celebrating holidays, birthdays, weddings, and parties of all kind. She cooked elaborate meals for dozens of people and hosted delicious dinners at a formal table set for 30 people. Rose knew no strangers at "the Compound" and beamed her light on each guest.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the St. Mary's Piscataway Church (13405 Piscataway Road, Clinton, MD 20735) on Thursday January 16, 2025 at 11 AM. Interment to follow in the church cemetery.

Online condolences may be shared with the family at arehartechols.com. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations in her name to the Andrea Bocelli Foundation at https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/andreabocellifoundation.