Rose Constance Ferrigan (Lansing)

Mrs. Rose Ferrigan was born on Tuesday, September 29, 1981, and left the world suddenly and unexpectedly on Monday, March 12, 2024 (and we’re not quite sure of the how and why yet). In the 42 years she graced us with her beautiful chaos, she filled our lives with laughter, creativity, and love. Though she was not born Rose, we will not sully her memory with who she thought she was supposed to be; rather, we will remember her as who she knew she was.

Rose was born in Royal Oak, Michigan. After a few years, her family moved to Columbia, South Carolina and then to Boca Raton, Florida, where she graduated from Spanish River High School in 1999. A lifelong student, but never a traditional one, she pursued studies in jewelry making at Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis, IN; philosophy at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, NC; and horticulture at Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI. She spent her time devouring new ideas and creating; she could often be found cross-stitching, making a whole room cackle with laughter, or railing against capitalism.

Rose was preceded in death by extended family on her maternal and paternal sides, including her storied aunt Constance Abernathy, and her father-in-law Wayne Ferrigan. Rose and her memory will be cherished by her wife, Bridget Ferrigan; her mother, Trish Lieberman; brother, Michael Oliwek and nieces, Sakura & Aimi Oliwek; sister, Rebekah (Oliwek) LaCount and niece, Madeleine LaCount; her in-laws; and her chosen family, especially the residents of The Goblin House and The Lemon House. We would mention Rose’s father, but as he was unworthy of the title in her lifetime, he does not deserve to be named in recognition of her passing.

As there will not be a traditional funeral service for Rose, the family would like to direct donations to one of the following charities, whose missions were close to Rose’s heart:

● Allen Neighborhood Center: ANC provides a free food pantry, operates a farmer’s market as well as an incubator kitchen, and provides advocacy, opportunity, and community resources to the greater Lansing community.                       https://allenneighborhoodcenter.org/

● Punks with Lunch Lansing: PWL Lansing provides food, harm reduction resources, and radical outreach to some of the most     vulnerable Lansing residents. https://www.punkswithlunchlansing.org/

● Kiss the Ground: Kiss the Ground is a California-based nonprofit focused on education and advocacy for soil regeneration         and regenerative agriculture. https://kisstheground.com/

● United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) USA and Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund: Both organizations provide     food, medical care, and other resources to displaced Palestinians.

   https://www.unrwausa.org/

   https://www.pcrf.net/

If donations of money are beyond anyone’s means, in remembrance of Rose, we urge well-wishers and fellow mourners to donate their time and involvement to their local community and advocate for positive change in her memory. Whether directly providing food and resources without judgment of circumstances; working to revitalize natural spaces or encouraging the preservation of native ecosystems by planting native flora; sponsoring adoptions through a local animal rescue; or by being unapologetically loud and insistent on change to figures in authority so that every person, regardless of circumstance, can have an opportunity to thrive.

As one of Rose’s biggest regrets would be missing her own funeral, we invite friends, family, and well-wishers to not regret the same. A memorial service will be held for Rose at the Davis Nature Pavilion within the Fenner Nature Center (2020 E Mt Hope Ave, Lansing, MI 48910) on Friday, April 5th, from 5pm-6pm. The family will be present from 4:30pm-7pm for visitation.