Priscilla F. Rorstrom of Hays, Kansas passed away peacefully in her sleep on Saturday, August 23, 2025 at Via Christi Village. She was 88 years old.
Priscilla was born on March 26, 1937 in Boston, Massachusetts, the daughter of Ralph Irving Freeman and Ella Brewster (Cornish) Freeman. Priscilla grew up on Cape Cod in the town of Sandwich, Massachusetts at Bay View Farm, a property that had been in her family for generations. As a child she was surrounded by extended family. Along with her parents and younger brother, Irving, various aunts, uncles and grandparents also shared the house at different times. The home was the center of frequent family gatherings involving the greater extended family from nearby towns on the Cape and beyond. There are numerous stories of childhood adventures with her brother and cousins at the beach and on the farm. Her high school class had only six class members; therefore, she played flute in the local Shawme Orchestra. She was also active in the Camp Fire Girls and was the scorekeeper for the school basketball team.
After high school, Priscilla attended Framingham State Teachers College, where she graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Home Economics. After college she worked with special needs children at the Riverview School in Sandwich from 1959 to 1960. On October 15, 1960 she was united in marriage to Eric G. Rorstrom at the Federated Church in Sandwich. Eric and her brother were fraternity brothers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, which facilitated their meeting. After marriage, the couple rented a small house in Holden, Massachusetts. Shortly thereafter, Eric was called into the Army Reserves at the onset of the Berlin Wall Crisis. She gave birth to their first child, James, in August of 1961 while Eric was stationed at Fort Dix, New Jersey. Subsequently, she returned to the Cape with her baby to live with her parents in Sandwich until Eric was discharged from the Reserves following the second Berlin Wall crisis in 1962. Being able to now resume a normal life, Eric pursued his career as a mechanical engineer at the Riley Stoker Corporation in Worcester, Massachusetts and they purchased a home in Holden, Massachusetts. Priscilla chose to continue as a stay at home mom and was involved with the choir at the Holden Baptist Church. She gave birth to their second child, John, in 1965.
In 1967, Eric began employment with the Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Corporation and the family relocated to Marlborough, Connecticut. They became members of the Marlborough Congregational Church and then, in 1978, became members of Trinity Covenant Church in Manchester, Connecticut. They were active in the choir, Bible studies, prayer groups and served in various leadership capacities at both churches. Priscilla was also active in the local PTA and was a room mother for both boys as they progressed through elementary school. She enjoyed flower gardening and was an active member of the Marlborough Garden Club for many years, receiving awards for her flower arrangements at the annual house and garden tour. She was highly skilled at sewing, embroidery, knitting and crocheting. She utilized her skills to produce much of her own clothing, sport coats for Eric, costumes for the boys, Scandinavian style sweaters and decorative items. Priscilla’s love of music resulted in her embracing the recorder in the mid 1970’s. After becoming proficient at the instrument, she joined the Lake Consort. The group performed their repertoire of music from the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods at churches and other venues into the late 1980’s. These years were also marked by the annual family camping trips to the White Mountains and, in 1978, a month long motor home adventure tour of the U.S.
In 1979, with the oldest son entering college, Priscilla decided to return to work and took a position as the secretary in the high school audio visual department. She remained there until 1988, at which point she became a secretary at Trinity Covenant Church and remained in that capacity until retirement. In the following years she enjoyed continuing in her many activities and frequent visits to the family homestead on the Cape.
She also enjoyed traveling with Eric to Maine, Prince Edward Island and England as well as trips to see her sons and their families in Kansas and New Hampshire. Grandchildren had begun to arrive a few years earlier, in 1995. As this next generation grew, she enjoyed sharing her faith, wisdom, skills, life stories and extensive family history with them.
Throughout their 55 years in Marlborough, Priscilla was known for her love of hospitality and entertaining - blessing family and friends with sumptuous meals at their home, contributing to church suppers, making meals for shut-ins and the bereaved, as well as welcoming new families to the neighborhood with a fresh-baked loaf of bread and other goodies.
In 2022, Priscilla moved with her husband Eric to Hays, Kansas to be closer to her family. In Hays they have been involved with the North Oak Community Church and have enjoyed making friends in the church and community.
Priscilla is survived by her husband Eric of Hays, two sons - James Rorstrom and wife Jane of Hays and John Rorstrom and wife Theresa of Austin, TX, her brother - Irving Freeman and wife Carolyn of Sandwich, MA, four grandchildren - Katarina Clinton and husband Mark of Southern Pines, NC, Hans Rorstrom and wife Hannah of Claremore, OK, Eric Rorstrom of Kansas City, MO, and Carl Rorstrom of Lawrence, KS. There are three great grandchildren - Hope, Svea, and Cathan. She was preceded in death by her parents.
A memorial service will be held at North Oak Community Church. The date is pending and will be announced by Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. Private family inurnment will be in Spring Hill Cemetery in Sandwich, Massachusetts. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested sent to: North Oak Community Church, 3000 Oak St., Hays, KS 67601. Write: “Memorial – Priscilla” on the memo line. Funds will be used to support mission outreaches. Condolences and memories of Priscilla may be shared with her family at www.haysmemorial.com