Rose Marie Mancini, born February 7, 1942, in Hagerstown, Maryland, passed away mercifully and peacefully in her sleep on Saturday, May 30, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Known by her close friends as the “Energizer Bunnie,” she was active in service to her profession, her church, and her community.

Rose received her nursing degree from Union Memorial School of Nursing and later her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Louisiana State University. She rose through the ranks of nursing, serving at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Charity Hospital of New Orleans, and the Veterans Administration Hospital in New Orleans. At the VA, she built her reputation as an infection control specialist. She was a national consultant for the VA Health System and retired from the VA as the head of infection control for the entire system.

During the Cold War, Rose traveled all over the country to be trained and train others in response to biological, chemical, and nuclear attacks. She developed protocols for Best Practices at hospitals, clinics, and military bases. No doubt, there are seasoned physicians practicing today who learned surgical and clinical sterile techniques as interns and residents from the tall, red-headed nurse who fiercely protected her patients.

Rose met and married her first husband, Gunther “Dutch” Herbert Seutter in 1984, and, in addition to her nursing career, was his partner and helpmate, operating Fritzel’s European Jazz Pub in the New Orleans French Quarter. Rose was known for her gracious hospitality to musicians, regulars, and visitors alike. In later years, when Dutch’s health began declining, Rose nursed him with the same caring and professionalism she gave her patients until he died in 2003.

When she retired from the VA, her caring spirit and her exceptional knowledge of health care led her to work and support the New Orleans Musicians Clinic, an organization that provided access to healthcare for musicians, artists, and culture bearers in the Greater New Orleans area.

She honored Dutch’s German heritage through her involvement with the Deutsches Haus in New Orleans. She served as president of the Ladies Auxiliary from 2009 to 2024 and as a member of the Haus board of directors for five years. Rose was beloved for her generous spirit, providing hundreds of cakes and decorated cookies for Oktoberfest, Christmas celebrations, and Friday Trivia Nights. 

She was known for her engaging presentations on German heritage and, despite her illness, had planned another for July. Her proudest accomplishment and greatest joy was establishing and growing the annual Christkindlmarkt.

Rose was an active member of St. Luke United Methodist Church in New Orleans. She put her mark on almost every social event by coordinating potluck lunches, decorating for Christmas, caring for the grounds, and making everyone feel welcome. Her faith was based on her love for Christ, which translated into an abundant love for all people. Rose was not one to judge but delighted in ministry through hospitality. 

She served on the Church Council in various roles and was counted on in almost every area of church life. She served as the lay representative to the Conference and was supportive of St. Luke’s becoming a Reconciling Congregation. She was true to her Lord and her chosen church in everything she did in her life. People were drawn to her, and she was inclusive of everyone, no matter what their background.

Rose was predeceased by her parents, Anthony Mancini and Virginia Gilardi Hartle, and her first husband, Gunther Herbert Seutter. She is survived by her husband and treasured companion, Thomas Seidell, sister Suzanne Burgess, sister-in-law Lee Lee Felton, stepson Tim Seidell and his wife, Sheila, nieces Sarah Felton and Andrea Elser, and a myriad of friends across all spectrums of the community.

Friends and family will celebrate Rose’s life on Saturday, June 6, at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 5875 Canal Blvd, New Orleans, Louisiana 70124. Visitation will begin at 10:00 am. With the Memorial Service at 11:00 am. A reception will follow the service in the church's Fellowship Hall. In keeping with Rose’s zest and joie de vivre, she requested participants forego the traditional funeral black and wear bright colors and patterns of their choosing.