Rosena C. Ward

BARRE - Rosena Carter Ward, 90 of Barre, Vt, passed quietly on January 4, 2026 at Berlin Health and Rehabilitation, where she had resided since March 2020. Rose was born at home in Warren Village, Vermont on May 18,1935 to her parents Veda Hayes Carter and Rollie Carter. She attended school in the village, then graduated from High School in Waitsfield, VT.

Rose worked briefly at Westboro State hospital in MA, before returning to Vermont and gaining employment at National Life of Vermont.

Rose married the love of her life, Kenneth E. Ward of Moretown, on June 30,1955 when he returned home on leave from Fort Lewis, Washington after being drafted into the Army during the Korean Crisis. Upon his return they lived in Barre and South Barre until they purchased a house in Barre in 1978.

Rosie enjoyed singing and listening to country music, she always had the radio on and had many albums to play on her stereo. She looked forward to going dancing with Ken and friends whenever possible and planned time on Saturday morning to listen to county music radio broadcasts. Her other hobby was discovered when her mother-in-law Harriet Ward retired and introduced her to competitive card games. They would have card parties at each other’s homes that would take the whole day, often her children attended and learned the rules to play or add/count the card values.

Rose leaves behind her 3 children, Julie Ward, Lori Belleville, and Brent Ward, two grandchildren, Marc Southard and Jay Belleville, 2 great grandsons Silas and Ultan Southard, her brother Mervil Carter, sister Patricia Sue Carter and many nieces and nephews. Rose was predeceased by her parents, her husband Kenneth, as well as her siblings Phillip, Verla and Virginia, and her son-in-law Raymond.

A graveside service is being planned at Middlesex Center Cemetery for May 30, 2026 at 11 am, followed by a Celebration of Life at the Barre VFW on Route 302, 527 East Barre Road, Barre Vt. Please write down any stories you would like to share with family and friends.

Arrangements are in the care of Pruneau-Polli Funeral Home in Barre.

Those wishing to express online condolences may do so at: www.pruneaupollifuneralhome.com