Officials, including Gov. Gary Locke, showered praise on the memory of the woman they credit with making life much better for children, especially those who are wards of the state.

"Rosie was a hero for the vulnerable children of Washington," Locke said in a prepared statement.

Oreskovich apparently died in her sleep, but the cause was not immediately known, according to DSHS spokeswoman Kathy Spears. Oreskovich, who lived in Seattle, had no children, Spears said.

"I'm saddened by the sudden loss of one of the nation's leading advocates for the welfare of the children," said Dennis Braddock, DSHS secretary and Oreskovich's boss. "All of us in DSHS are privileged to have been associated with Rosie and her work to look after and nurture children who find themselves in need of care and protection."

State Rep. Ruth Kagi, chairwoman of the House Children and Family Services Committee, called Oreskovich "an amazing champion for children and families" who "believed strongly that we could always do it better. She fought for reform and was a recognized national leader."

Focus on foster families

In particular, Oreskovich fought to get foster children placed with relatives and to lower caseloads that would let caseworkers spend more time with children and their families, Kagi said.

Kagi, a Lake Forest Park Democrat, shared news of the death with many of her legislative colleagues before making a few comments about Oreskovich on the House floor late Friday morning. Many lawmakers were devastated to hear, Kagi said.

Oreskovich, an assistant secretary of DSHS, started at the agency in 1976 in Seattle as a social worker, then worked her way up the ranks. She was at work Thursday, though she didn't sound like her usual self, according to Kagi, who had been part of a conference call with her.

"I understand she worked till midnight last night. ... It was indicative of the type of person she was," said Bill Wegeleben, a former special assistant to a previous DSHS secretary who worked with Oreskovich. "She had a great smile. She had a great laugh. But she could be a tough taskmaster. Anytime there was a process that needed to be changed for the better for kids, she was there to do it."

DSHS officials praised Oreskovich's contributions to the agency, saying she had promoted the "Kids Come First" agenda of the past two years. Through it, she increased the number of foster homes and increased the share of foster children placed with relatives. She also doubled the number of former foster children now ages 18-21 who were getting services that let them live independently, Spears said.

Her work elicited warm remembrances even from formerly harsh critics of DSHS such as Sen. Val Stevens, R-Arlington, who chairs the Senate Children and Family Services Committee.

"My prayers are with Rosie's family in Montana and also with her work family at DSHS," Stevens said in a statement released by the agency. "We will miss her quiet assurance and steadfast resolve to do the very best for the children who come under the state's jurisdiction."

Welfare system reforms

During a break Oreskovich took from DSHS, she coordinated Children's Mental Health Services in King County, but she returned to the state agency as assistant secretary in 1994. Her work included reforms to the mental health system and instituting an early screening, diagnosis and treatment initiative.

Lobbyist Lonnie Johns-Brown of the Washington Association for the Education of Young Children said Oreskovich's work for kids was "unstinting."

"You know, Rosie was absolutely determined and dedicated to do the best she could for fragile children in Washington state," Johns-Brown said. "Her work focused primarily on children involved in the Child Protective Services system. She was tireless and passionate, though sometimes stubborn. She'll be missed."