Meredith Church Rousseau

Meredith Church Rousseau peacefully departed this life on September 5, 2018. Born in Madison, Wisconsin, February 9, 1937, to parents Richard and Agatha Church, Lancaster became her home from 1969 until her death. During that time, she opened her doors to deserving young students from all over the world, acting as foster mother. She is fondly remembered as a lifelong mentor and friend to many. Meredith received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1959. She returned to Wisconsin to earn a Masters of Arts degree in 1969. Meredith taught at Millersville University and the Pennsylvania State College, York Campus, until her retirement. One of Meredith’s proudest achievements was her time serving as a tour guide for the United Nations, New York, N.Y. She distinguished herself there through her poise, confident public speaking and perpetually inquisitive nature, as she observed first-hand many of the notiable political events of the early 1960s, including witnessing Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev bang his shoe on the table at the U.N General Assembly. Meredith was a prolific contributor to multiple ogranizations in futherance of learning, education, and appreciation of the Arts. She was proud of her ten years serving as the President of the Women's Club of Chautauqua, NY. In her tenure, she organized and arranged stimulating presentations and programs with world- reknown scholars, musicians, artists and thinkers. One Chautauquan remembered that “Meredith gave to others constantly, without calling attention to herself: one way to be a leader.” Meredith served on the board of Lancaster’s Quest for Learning program, as well as a coordinator and Director of Torch International, facilitating events and speeches across the Mid-Atlantic region. She was instrumental in Lancaster’s Musical Arts Society, volunteered for years as a docent and tour guide at the North Museum, and taught English as a second languate to adults in Lancaster County. Among other achievements, Meredith Rousseau acted in and directed several Lancaster theatrical productions at the Fulton Opera House and the Theater of the Seventh Sister. In the 1970s, she performed the title role in “I Remember Mama,” and in “Under Milkwood,” among others. Meredith is survived by siblings Kathleen Wirth, of Cross Plains, WI, Julie Adams Church, Oakland, CA and Richard Church, Washington, D.C, son Michael Rousseau and daughter-in-law Janice O'Reilly, Lafayette, CO, along with former husband and dear friend Joseph L. Rousseau, of Lancaster. There will be a public memorial Sunday, October 21, 2018 from 11AM - 1PM at The Groff Family Funeral and Cremation Services, 528 W Orange St, (corner of Pine and W. Orange St) Lancaster, PA 17603. Meredith will be interred at Mellinger Mennonite Cemetery in Lancaster.