Rosamond (Cashier) Stevenson's Obituary
Rosamond (Cashier) Stevenson, 99, daughter of Joseph and Carrie Cashier of Syracuse and youngest sister of Frank, Helen, and Marie Cashier, passed away on April 30, 2018.
From earliest childhood Rosamond displayed a talent for music. She taught herself to play piano before she could read.
Music was always central in her life, playing for her sibling’s parties at Nottingham High and entering Syracuse University as a Fine Arts major. She soon drew the eye of director Sawyer Falk (“Life goes to College”) who encouraged her to add acting, singing, and composition to her resume with great success.
She moved to NYC after college and became a professional musician acquiring an agent, MCA, who started her off on the road, which she continued to do for several years, playing for large wartime crowds. She eventually was given her own radio show. She tried to join the USO, but they wanted musicians who played more portable instruments.
While playing piano at The Statler Hotel in Buffalo, she met and fell in love with a young pharmacist. She and Joseph Faso married and settled in Buffalo where his family owned a small business including the pharmacy.
There she gave birth to her son, Laurence in 1946 and a daughter, Christina in 1949. In 1953 Joe Faso died suddenly and unexpectedly, leaving Rosamond with two small children and little else. Her parents, Joe and Carrie Cashier, rushed to Buffalo, collected the dazed trio, and installed them in their big house on Chatham Road, where they could regain equilibrium among her extended family and friends. Laurie and Nina (as they were called) were enrolled in Salem Hyde School only blocks from the house.
Rosamond returned to her musical practice, studying piano and organ, and working locally. She began to feel better and longed for a house of her own, which her parents helped her buy; a brand-new home in a new neighborhood being built near Bellevue Country Club, where she would find people her own age. As she developed a life of her own, her work life expanded. She was writing jingles for local businesses and playing local engagements on piano and organ.
Another chapter began when she met a bachelor businessman in her golf crowd, Donald Stevenson. They decided to marry and build a larger home on Colonial Drive in Fayetteville where they lived happily until Don’s retirement in the late 1990’s. When a smaller house seemed wiser, they moved to Manlius. Those years were spent golfing, visiting their children and delighting in spending time with Laurie, his wife Marilyn and their son, Michael Joseph. They were thrilled to be grandparents.
After Don’s death in 2002, Rosamond kept busy playing piano, golfing at the Cavalry Club (she golfed until she was 90 years old), volunteering at St. Paul’s Church and spending winters in California with her children.
Recently, the family decided she should join them full time in California and the downsizing began. Rosamond took up residence with Laurie & Marilyn in Sherman Oaks, CA with two suitcases, her bedroom furniture and her Steinway piano—she never looked back.
Life in California was familiar, and she continued playing music for friends and family as she had her whole life. She practiced every day until she woke on April 30th with a headache and passed away some hours later surrounded by her family, as she had wanted. She was 99 years old.
Rosamond V. Cashier Faso Stevenson is survived by a son Laurence; a daughter Christina and a grandson, Michael Joseph Faso.
A Funeral Service in celebration of Rosamond’s life will be held Saturday, July 14th at 11:00 am at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 220 East Fayette St., Syracuse, NY, followed by interment of her ashes at Assumption Cemetery next to Donald & her parents. There are no calling hours.
In lieu of flowers, contributions, in Rosamond’s name, can be made to The Samaritan Center, 215 North State Street, Syracuse, NY 13203.
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