Penni C Roesner, 67, passed away peacefully in her home on June 16, 2021 after a 29 year battle with cancer.
Born Penni Charlene Tweedy on August 13, 1953 in Redding, CA to Wayne and Elner Tweedy.
Accompanied by her faithful dog, Molly, Penni had many adventures as a child climbing trees, riding her bike and playing with the neighborhood kids. She also spent many happy summers with her cousins, helping with the animals on her uncle’s ranch in Cedarville, CA. Much to Elner’s dismay, Penni disliked “dressing up”; instead preferring to muck about in the mud and explore the woods. Elner also had trouble getting a young Penni to take a nap since Penni simply didn’t want to miss out on anything.
After graduating Enterprise HS in 1971, Penni married her best friend’s older brother and the love of her life, Dean Roesner, on August 14, 1971. While attending American River CC & Sacramento State, respectively, their newly married life was full of hobbies: skiing, white water rafting, skin diving, and backpacking. After college graduation, Penni and Dean returned to Redding to start their family of three children: Robin, Rusty and Heather and 9 grandchildren. Penni was a very loving and devoted mother and grandmother, focusing much of her life and attention on her family. She made her home the family epicenter and every birthday and holiday, especially Christmas, was filled to the brim with family and friends. This August, Penni and Dean would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
After Penni was first diagnosed with cancer, she decided to become a registered nurse. Upon graduating with honors from the Shasta College nursing program, she worked at Mercy Hospital for almost 20 years. There she was recognized as the Employee of the Month, although she was equally well-known for her ability to “Disney cuss” by vehemently cursing “gosh darnit” and “oh fooey” when she felt the need.
A social person, Penni loved being out and about and was an active member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority for 43 years, where she enjoyed working on social fund-raising events and made numerous lifetime friends. Penni loved to travel. Whether it was to see plays in Ashland or London, snorkel for abalone at Fort Bragg, scuba dive the coral reefs in Tahiti, or visit the national parks and landmarks with Dean in their RV, exploring the world was one of her greatest joys. Throughout her life, Patrick’s Point State Park was a favored place for Penni and she was able to re-create a beautiful oasis of ferns and flowers in the backyard of her home in the heart of Redding. She often claimed that the gardener was her “spirit animal.”
Penni will be remembered fondly by those who met her and forever missed by all who loved her.
