Rev. Lois Jean (Fredrickson) Rose

Lois Jean Fredrickson Rose, 87, died peacefully on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 with family and friends by her side. 

Lois was born in Bristol, CT on July 6, 1937 to the late George and Gertrude Fredrickson. She grew up in Wichita, KS; Seattle WA; and Sioux Falls, SD. A graduate of Wellesley College, Lois attended Union Seminary in New York where she met her former husband Stephen C. Rose (1936-2024.) They raised three children, first in Chicago, IL and Geneva, Switzerland before settling in Stockbridge, MA. The Stockbridge home was a place of intentional and radical hospitality, where friends of all ages and backgrounds were welcomed for meals or a place to stay for a while. 

Lois was raised in the Congregational Church and remained active in churches in Chicago and Stockbridge. After finishing studies at Assumption College, Lois was ordained as a United Church of Christ minister in 1973. She was proud of the longevity of her women’s group formed in the early 70’s and was also one of the founders of the Berkshire Women's Services Center, now the Elizabeth Freeman Center. Lois served UCC churches in Monterey, Leverett, and Brimfield, MA. She then went on to establish East Mountain Retreat Center, an interfaith ministry that hosted groups and individuals seeking spiritual guidance in a peaceful setting in Great Barrington, MA. Lois loved horses, her many dogs, and live folk music. She traveled far and wide, and enjoyed hiking adventures.

In addition to her parents, Lois was predeceased by brother George M. Fredrickson, son Stephen F. Rose, and sister-in-law Helene Fredrickson. She will be greatly missed by her daughters Diana Rose Forfa (William) and Amy Rose (Chris Pirie) and daughter-in-law Denise Morgan. She was loved by grandchildren Erin (Matt), David (Nicky), Gregory (Michelle) and Sarah Forfa (Ben Ashley); August and Alexander Rose; Nat Spink (Sam Curtis Lindsay), Kaya and Jessie Pirie and great-grandchildren Zoey, Ava, Ian, Theodore and June, as well as nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service will be held at First Congregational Church in Great Barrington on Saturday, May 17 at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First Congregational Church in Great Barrington, your local United Church of Christ church, Greenpeace, Human Rights Watch, Southern Berkshire Construct or the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.