Rosalie Helen Attra Abercia, 85, our Earth Angel, joined the ranks of the Heavenly Angels on the morning of September 28, 2023. Growing up with the nickname of "Dolly", she was born in Houston on April 1, 1938, but was nobody's fool. Rosalie attended Stephen F. Austin High School, where she was a Sargeant and drummer in the Scottish Brigade drill team. She excelled academically, graduating early as a member of the National Honor Society, with several scholarship opportunities and awards, including the American Legion Award, available to her.

Upon graduation, she worked as a stenographer for Youngstown Steel Company. On August 18, 1957, at the age of 19, she married her love Louis Abercia, also of Houston, with whom she shared a beautiful marriage of 66 years. When she began her family, she chose to stay at home, and was a wonderful mother and counselor to her 3 children.

While juggling all the demands of a homemaker, mother, and volunteer, she still managed to always have dinner on the table every day at 5:00pm, as soon as Louis came home from work. This gave the family more time together each evening. She enjoyed sewing, and made everything from clothing to gorgeous draperies for her home.

Known for her beautiful voice, Rosalie was an active member, self-taught organist and assistant director of the liturgical choir at St George Orthodox Church for over 70 years. She was also a founding member of the pan-Orthodox St Romanos Chorale, travelling to various cities in the southern US, spreading Orthodoxy through its rich hymnology.

She held many leadership positions at the local and regional levels of church organizations, including SOYO and Fellowship of St John, among others. Rosalie served as a member of the St George parish council, as regional Parish Life Conference chairwoman, and as church secretary. She also organized monthly trips for seniors of the church for 20+ years to interesting locales around the Houston area, and organized numerous retreats as leader of the Spiritual Involvement ministry team.

For many years, Rosalie also served as the coordinator for all the church's ministry teams, encouraging every parishioner to volunteer and participate in the numerous ministries of St George. She also assisted in the establishment and funding of several new missions in the Houston area, in part through the creation of an annual Community Christmas Card program at St George, which still continues today.

Rosalie also served in various national roles as committee chair and advisor, including conference planning, and served as conference chair when St George Houston hosted the Archdiocesan Convention in 1978. She volunteered for many years at the Antiochian Village summer camp in Pennsylvania as a staff member, managing the "Gimme Shop", even washing campers' laundry - whatever was needed.

She was also instrumental in the establishment of the Mediterranean Festival at St George, and worked as a volunteer in various capacities, including stage design and decoration in its inaugural year.

Rosalie was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by Bishop Basil Essey at a Parish Life Conference, for her countless years of selfless service to Christ's church. She often received recognition of her efforts at the local St George parish, all of which she very humbly accepted remarking "I just do what I can".

She was also a long-time member of the L'Entesar Club of Houston, and attended many Southern Federation conventions, enjoying the camaraderie of her fellow members.

Always thinking of others, she never missed a birthday, anniversary or special event without giving a gift or a card - often a custom card she designed and hand decorated, in her signature "Rosebud" artistic style. She was always the first one to help a friend or family member in need. She loved to travel, always looking for her next cruise. If there was a football game on TV, she was watching it.

Although dealing with numerous, unique health challenges for many years, including a 51-year survivorship of cancer and related radiation treatment, she always remained strong and positive, never complaining, but sharing her special sweet smile and sparkling blue eyes that brightened the room.

Her strength in the midst of her lifelong difficulties was an inspiration to all who knew her. Amidst these issues, all of us, primarily Rosalie, considered it a miracle and a blessing that she was granted 85 years on earth, to see her children's and grandchildren's weddings and graduations, even the birth of her great-grandchildren.

After spending several weeks in Methodist Houston hospital, however, despite Rosalie, her always-attentive family, and the medical staff all giving their best efforts, God called her home, and granted her peace from her illnesses and suffering.

Rosalie is preceded in death by her parents William and Virginia Attra, and her infant daughter Janet Lee. She is survived by her husband Louis Abercia, children Melinda Treckman (Tim), Steven Abercia (Eva), and Lisa Abercia, grandchildren Andrew Treckman (Brooke), Rachael Treckman (Julian Blunk), and Alexander Abercia, and great-grandchildren Jacob and Lukas Treckman. She is also survived by her brothers Dr. William Attra (Betty), Robert Attra, and sister Carolyn Attra-Nahas (Albert Nahas), brothers and sisters-in-law Ralph & Adelene Abercia, George Abercia, and Jaque Abercia, numerous nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, and abundant friends from her extended church family and beyond.

Rosalie was truly dedicated to her church, family, and friends, and her absence will be felt by many. Visitation will be Thursday, October 5 at St. George Orthodox Church, 5311 Mercer Street, Houston TX 77005, from 5:00-7:00pm, with a Trisagion prayer service at 7:00pm. Reception to follow in the church hall. Funeral service will be at St. George on Friday, October 6 at 11:00am, V. Rev. James Shadid and Rev. Mark Makarios officiating. A Meal of Mercy will be offered in the church hall following the funeral service. Interment to follow at Memorial Oaks Cemetery at 2:00pm.

For those desiring, donations in Rosalie's memory may be made to Saint Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Monastery (www.saintparaskevi.com). Please mention Rosalie's name in the "Write a note" field when making your online contribution.

To our wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, Godmother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend "Rosebud" we say

"Well done, good and faithful servant". We thank you for what you have provided for us and others, and will always love and miss you. You were truly a special and giving person.

May her Memory be Eternal, and may she rest with the saints.

"O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, who art everywhere and fillest all things, Treasury of blessings and giver of life: come and abide in us, cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O gracious Lord." Service Information Visitation will be Thursday, October 5 at St. George Orthodox Church, 5311 Mercer Street, Houston TX 77005, from 5:00-7:00pm, with a Trisagion prayer service at 7:00pm. Reception to follow in the church hall. Funeral service will be at St. George on Friday, October 6 at 11:00am, V. Rev. James Shadid and Rev. Mark Makarios officiating. A Meal of Mercy will be offered in the church hall following the funeral service. Interment to follow at Memorial Oaks Cemetery at 2:00pm. Visitation Thursday 05 Oct 5:00 pm ~ 7:00 pm St. George Orthodox Church 5311 Mercer Street, Houston TX 77005 Funeral Service Friday 06 Oct 11:00 am ~ St. George Orthodox Church 5311 Mercer Street, Houston TX 77005 Interment Friday 06 Oct Memorial Oaks Cemetery - 2:00 PM 13001 Katy Fwy, Houston, TX 77079