Rosella Hennum Fusfeld, 92; Talented and Versatile Artist

Rosella Hennum Fusfeld, a 47-year resident of Pacific Palisades, passed away on July 21 at the age of 92.

She was born on March 26, 1921 in Hettinger, North Dakota, the daughter of Rosa Fordahl and Leofred Hennum.  Her family was homesteading a farm in Montana at the time of her birth, but soon moved back to the farm her grandfather had homesteaded in Wanamingo, Minnesota. Rosella spent many happy years growing up on that farm with her four brothers, one sister and several cousins, attending a one-room schoolhouse. Throughout her life, she was extremely proud of her Norwegian-American heritage.

During the Depression, Rosella’s family moved to Rochester, Minnesota, where she attended high school and Rochester Junior College.  Following college, she worked as a medical secretary at the Rochester Mayo Clinic. During World War II, she moved to Pasadena, where she worked in private medical clinics and volunteered as a Gray Lady at a local hospital, assisting wounded veterans.

On June 6, 1952, Rosella married Robert Fusfeld and together they raised three daughters. After moving to Pacific Palisades in 1966, she became an accomplished artist in watercolor, acrylic, silk-screen and sculpture. In the early 1980s, she served as president of the Malibu Art Association. She also volunteered at Palisades High School in the library, mending thousands of library books.

All who knew Rosella loved her. Growing up, her daughters sometimes complained that she “stole” their friends, as the young people were drawn to Rosella’s warm hugs and magical smiles. Her subtle, character-driven sense of humor was superb, and with it she entranced her family with stories about her childhood on the farm and other phases of her life. She was a true lover of nature and human nature and this inspired her art, mothering and joy of life.

Rosella is survived by her husband of 61 years, Robert; her three daughters, Amy Rogers of Denver, Alice Low of Sacramento and Louise Fusfeld of Pacific Palisades; and three grandchildren, Kristin Brickman, Craig Rogers and Karina Low.