She was the face of women across America who went on the job to help the war effort during World War II. The model Norman Rockwell used has passed away this week.  At the age of 19 when artist Norman Rockwell approached Mary Doyle Keefe to be his next project model of "Rosie The Riveter." Ms. Keefe was a telephone operator who was a neighbor of Rockwell's back in the 1940's.

After the painting of Rosie The Riveter, the illustration appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post on May 29, 1943. Mr. Rockwell apologized for the big arms and shoulders, depicted in the painting, but Ms. Keefe didn't seem to mind.

Before her death, Ms. Keefe was very gracious at showing up at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art by signing autographs and pictures of Rosie, where the original painting hangs.

More From KGAB