Mary Gertrude Roden

Mary Gertrude Roden, age 92 of Hamilton passed away in Berkeley Square Health Care on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 5:00 PM. She was born in Plainview, Texas on July 18, 1916 the daughter of Alexander "Sandy" and Elsie (Armstead) Baker. She was a graduate of Seven Mile High School and a 1937 graduate of Mercy School of Nursing. Mary was a registered nurse, working as a private duty nurse in Hamilton and Miami, Florida. She operated the fever therapy department of Mercy Hospital and then worked in the office of Dr. Vernon Roden. She served in the United States Army Nurse Corps as Second Lieutenant for nine months during World War II in 1945. On December 1, 1945 in Hamilton she was married to Dr. Carl A. Roden, and he preceded her in death in 2003. After raising her five children, she continued her poetic talents and was recognized and received an award in Washington, D.C. for her published poem, "Nothing Has Changed."

She is survived by three sons, C. Edward Roden of Hamilton, David S. (Elizabeth) Roden of Pickerington, Ohio, and Arthur R. (Antonietta) Roden of Hamilton; two daughters, Gail E. (Daniel) Oakes of Sunbury, Ohio and Mary Pat Roden of Henderson, Nevada; and eight grandchildren, Joshua, Kevin (Kate), Rodger (Sudie), and Michael Oakes, Michael, Shawna, Andrew, and Christopher Roden. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, William and Charles Baker; and one sister, R. Jeanette Baker.

Visitation will be held at the Brown-Dawson Funeral Home, 330 Pershing Avenue, on Wednesday, August 6, 2008 from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM, followed by a memorial service with a eulogy by her family at 6:00 PM. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery at a later date. Because of her strong belief in the importance of medicine and at her request, her body was donated to the University of Cincinnati Medical School. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine or to Vitas Hospice.