Pauline C. Ross, widow of H.J. Ross, formerly of Lebanon, N.J., and Fairdale, passed away on Jan. 6, 2011.She was born on Jan. 11, 1913, to Harry and Sadie (Pollock) Chodeck in Vineland, N.J., where her father was a strawberry farmer.In the early 1920s, Pauline moved with her family to Philadelphia where she attended school and went on to earn her R.N. degree from Women's Medical College in East Falls Upon graduation, Pauline was the youngest RN at the time ever to have served as head manager of a hospital clinic, attached to the Medical College. In addition to her clinical work as a Registered Nurse, she went on to manage several medical practices, most notably for Michael M. Wolfe, a prominent plastic surgeon with an international practice.In 1940, Pauline married her beloved husband of over 50 years, Dr. Herman Justin Ross, also known affectionately by family and friends as "Justin" and "Doc."They lived in New York, where he practiced restorative dentistry for patients from numerous countries, many of whom were luminaries in the arts and industry of their time.In addition to managing the practice, Pauline participated in many community activities, including civilian emergency management during World War II.By 1950, they moved from New York City to Hunterdon County, N.J., where they had for many years maintained a summer home. Although the move required a daily commute to New York, they deemed it important to allow their two sons to grow up in a rural environment. They named their little piece of paradise "Glenyan," in honor of Ernest Thompson Seton, an author-naturalist who had a profound influence on Pauline's husband. Pauline may have been all business as the manager of her husband's practice, but she was all wife, mother and farmer's daughter in the country. Although she had been run-down by a horse as a 3-year old, she saw to it that both sons learned to ride, and participated in every country boy's young experience. At the same time, she directed the planting of extensive flower and vegetable gardens, and the processing of Glenyan's bountiful home-grown fruit and produce in the kitchen of their 1803 farmhouse. By 1957, Pauline had become very involved in several community activities, including rural health care and provision of services to families who otherwise would not have had such access. She encouraged and then implemented the opening of a dental office on their property, where Dr. Ross operated until his retirement in 1968. During the above-mentioned 18-year period, Pauline assumed many leadership roles in community service. She was an energetic fund raiser for the Hunterdon Medical Center, the Red Cross, and as an officer of Tewksbury Township's PTA, spearheaded the establishment of the school's first hot-lunch program. Her other civic or social activities included the local garden club, the Hunterdon Arts Center, and the League of Women Voters for which she served as president in the early 1960s. In all cases, her focus was on health and education. Gardening, cooking, and setting an extra place at any meal for a constant stream of family and friends were her tireless avocations.Extensive travel, starting with annual trips to Latin America to participate in the Pan American Odontological Association, where Dr. Ross served as treasurer was also central to the couple professional and personal lifestyle in this era. However, it is no surprise to anyone who knew "Justin" and Pauline that he held the title, but she was the treasurer-in-fact.Later in the early Sixties, they traveled at least annually, to many countries in Europe, then Africa, and the Far East. Due to Pauline's exceptional management skills, they were able to conduct the dental practice in a manner that permitted them to travel for up to two months at a time.Throughout this zenith, Pauline remained the backbone of the management and financial operations, but more importantly, she was the matriarch of the family (and the extended family).There was never a child in a branch of the family, or children of close friends, who didn't experience at least a few weeks at Glenyan, especially in times of need or crisis. Pauline was always there to welcome and console. By the late Sixties, things had begun to wind down in New Jersey, mainly due to her husband's age and health, who was 13 years her senior. They sought a quieter more removed venue, and chose Montrose, county seat of Susquehanna County, in the Endless Mountains. There they created a scaled-down version of the life they had built in New Jersey and dubbed it "Glenyan II."Pauline was the one who connected with the community there, joining and supporting such organizations as the Montrose Library, the Business and Professional Women's Club, and the Women's Garden Club. Through the strength of her personality, they made many close friends among their neighbors. Pauline maintained a very active correspondence with literally hundreds of friends from around the world, even after they had retired to this rural community.In 1991, a few months after their 51st wedding anniversary, her beloved Herman died. It was with great surprise that Pauline discovered later that he had secreted a note in a locket he bought for her when they visited the Taj Mahal- the note read "I will love you forever."Remarkably, Pauline continued to run Glenyan II as a working farm, until 1998, when she sold it, and moved to be closer to her brother and his family in Philadelphia. Later, she moved West- first to Santa Fe, N.M., and then to Scottsdale, Ariz., to be near her eldest son, Yan, who took responsibility for her well-being in the last years of her long life.While her circles grew smaller, Pauline continued her active correspondence with her family, and extended group of friends. A friend and matriarch to the end, she maintained supportive and generous relationships with everyone in her life.Pauline C. Ross will be sorely missed by her family, and the many others whose lives she touched.Survivors include sons: Yan (and wife Randi), and Larry (and wife Amelia); daughter Barbara (and husband Steven Willis); grandchildren: Matt Pflantzbaum and Elizabeth Ross; and many others. Some were life-long friends; others were the descendants of her closest friends. It was not unusual for Pauline to be on close terms with their children, and even their grandchildren, such as the late Martha Houghton of Amarillo, Texas, and Audrey Kelly of Montrose.A celebration of Pauline's life is planned in the spring in Montrose, at the farm where Pauline & Herman lived for some 30 years.In lieu of flowers, donations to the Pauline C. Ross Memorial Fund to benefit the Montrose Library would be appreciated. Address: Susquehanna County Historical Society & Free Library Assn 2 Monument Square, Montrose, PA 18801, 278-1881.