mary became the poster girl for american when she shot to fame by posing for norman rockwell 's iconic painting .
rosie the riveter was on the cover of the saturday evening post on may 29 , 1943 , and became a symbol for feminism and economic power for american female workers during the war .
rockwell 's famous painting shows the red-haired rosie dressed in blue work overalls sat on tuesday after a brief illness , her family said .
mary became the poster girl has died in simsbury , conneticut , aged 92 .