Mitzi Genevieve Rohen

Mitzi was born as Genevieve Murphy on Sunday, April 5, 1925, in Minot, North Dakota. She was the sixth of seven children born to Thomas B. and Anna Grace (McKone) Murphy. She grew up in a loving Roman Catholic Irish family, excelling in figure ice skating, piano playing and her studies. In 1943 Mitzi graduated as valedictorian from St. Leo's High School and turned down opportunities to continue her education in order to help family members.



Mitzi worked her way West following various job opportunities, eventually making her way to Oregon. She met and later married Robert Rohen on April 16, 1955. Skiing, golf, bridge, and cribbage were just some of the activities they enjoyed together. They originally lived in an apartment in Portland, where they welcomed their first child, William Thomas. After the birth of their second child, Ann Mary, they bought a house in Lake Oswego in which to raise their growing family. It was not long before they welcomed Barbara Jean and Rebecca Jane. Mitzi chose to work as a homemaker when the children were young.



As the children got older, Mitzi worked part-time as an executive secretary at a small lumber firm, making sure she was home when the children arrived from school. She was their biggest cheerleader, attending many of their sports and school activities. She was active in the Catholic Church at our Lady of the Lake for over 60 years.



Mitzi loved to travel, and took every opportunity to visit family and friends, including at family weddings, family reunions, and school reunions. She jumped on every opportunity to travel to new places to explore the world via car, boat, and airplane (the U.S., Europe, Japan, Egypt, the Panama Canal, just to name a few places). After Robert died, she sold the house and moved to an apartment, affording her the opportunity to continue her travels. She cherished her independent living. She loved long walks, knitting, her various bridge groups, baking and volunteering for local causes (i.e., St. Vincent de Paul and the Lake Oswego Rerun Shop).



Mitzi welcomed and loved each of her eight grandchildren (Brady, Stefanie, Carly, Natalie, Nicole, Grace, Patrick, and Gabe). She cherished the times spent with her children, grandchildren, family, and friends. When Mitzi finally stopped driving, she missed her independence, and most importantly daily Mass and coffee meetings with her friends at St. Honoré's.



Mitzi is survived by her children and their spouses (Esther, Stan, Claus and Bruce), grandchildren, sister Grace (the remaining living sibling), as well as many nieces, nephews and generations of their children. She will be missed dearly by many. Funeral services will be held on December 20, 2021, at Our Lady of the Lake Church in Lake Oswego (and live streamed at http://ollparish.com ), starting with Rosary at 10:30 AM, followed by mass at 11:00 AM. Burial will take place at Sacred Heart Cemetery immediately following the Mass. The family would like to send a special thank you to the caregivers at Carman Oaks and Providence Milwaukie Hospital. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made in Mitzi's name to the local St. Vincent de Paul.