Rosemary LaBerge blazed trail for the blind

Rosemary LaBerge of St. Anthony, who had little vision at birth and was blind by the age of 4, helped others who were blind to live independently.

LaBerge and her husband, Armand, also visually handicapped, raised five children. The longtime Minneapolis resident, who was 81, died Sept. 11.

For almost 50 years, she was active in the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota. She spoke before groups and attended hearings, giving a voice to people with disabilities, said Joyce Scanlan of Minneapolis, former president of the association.

"She was very energetic and active," Scanlan said, and was especially an advocate for blind parents. "She taught you can't let other people tell you how to raise your kids."

"She really had a strong sense of her independence, and she would have fought for it, if she had to," Scanlan said.

LaBerge also served on the Minnesota Statewide Independent Living Council, which works with state agencies.

In 1950, LaBerge, a native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, became the first blind person to earn a degree from the University of Manitoba.

They married in 1957 and settled in Minneapolis. She was advised not to have children because of her disability, recalled family members.

She worked in hospitals in Winnipeg and in Minneapolis for several years as an X-ray developer.

She sang in several church choirs and groups. She had taught herself piano when she was growing up and could accompany herself.

Friends, neighbors and family marveled that a blind woman could raise five children, said her daughter, Jocelyn of Minneapolis.

"Curious people would ask: 'Who tucks you in? Who makes dinner? Who does the laundry?'" Jocelyn said. Her children would reply, "'My mom does it.' It was normal for us."

"She could hear everything. It was hard to get stuff by her," said her daughter. "She was just cute, soft-hearted and probably thought of herself as being strict, but no."

In addition to her husband and Jocelyn, she is survived by her other daughters, Natalie Thompson of Plymouth, and Liz Grazulis of Blaine; sons, Charles of Richfield, Philip of St. Michael; sister, June Stilborn of Ottawa, Ontario, and seven grandchildren.