Age 90

Beloved wife of the late Patrick. Loving mother of Mary-Frances (Brian) VanBuhler, Anne-Marie (Mike) Lentz, and Sheila (Matt) White. Cherished grandmother of Joseph (Laura) VanBuhler, Gemma VanBuhler, Maggie (Alex) Bustamante, Thomas VanBuhler, Conor VanBuhler, Julia (Tony) Gutierrez, Allison (Garrett) Bush, John Lentz, Dominic Lentz, Jacob White, Clare White, James White, Maria White. Great-grandmother of Mariela and Mateo Gutierrez.  Dearest sister of the late Celestine (Dennis) Condon, and Kathlyn (Martin) Karolle. Dear sister-in-law of Kathleen McCarthy, Evelyn Sheehan, and the late Mary Gallagher, Bridget Gallagher, Francis Gallagher, Margaret Gallagher, John Gallagher, William McCarthy, and John Sheehan. She was very dearly loved and will be deeply missed by many nieces, nephews, cousins, family members & friends.

Rosemary Gallagher was born in Dearborn, Michigan, the youngest daughter of Charles and Marcella Fitzpatrick, of Ontario, Canada, in 1935. She was born on December 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and just celebrated her 90th birthday. She was widowed seven years ago, just shy of her 50th wedding anniversary to Patrick Gallagher, of County Sligo, Ireland.

They had three daughters, Mary-Frances, Anne-Marie, and Sheila, and at the time of her passing also had thirteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Rosemary's greatest joy was in spending time with her family, and she was never happier than when she could be with them.

She worked for many years at John Hancock Insurance Company. During her younger years she formed several lasting friendships there and in those single days enjoyed traveling around the country with girlfriends and taking home videos of her travels. One of her children's fun memories was when she occasionally pulled out her movie projector in the basement, pulled down the movie screen, and showed them those movies, taken when she was so young.

Rosemary was a mother who was remarkably close to her children, who often talked to them about matters of faith. She fondly remembered her own education by the Sisters at Sacred Heart High School and remained close friends with several of her classmates throughout her entire life. She was a woman of deep thinking, who read extensively, particularly Catholic material and the lives of the Saints, and treasured her Catholic faith. This was the core of her life, and her comfort through difficult times. She often discussed the faith and encouraged her daughters to live it actively and supported them when this was challenging. She and Pat were parishioners at Divine Child Catholic Church until the end of their lives. When her children were growing up, she gathered her family many nights for the family Rosary, a tradition her children try to continue.

Rosemary enjoyed baking for her family, crocheting blankets still in use today, and embroidery, but moreover creating a warm and peaceful home. She enjoyed trying new things like ceramics. She loved politics, old movies, and all types of music. She often wrote long letters to family members and did much painstaking work on the family tree, researching by phone and mail and collecting stories of past generations. She also loved going out with her family to dinner and having that special time together.

Rosemary's great pride and happiness in later years was her grandchildren, and she delighted in her growing family. She loved her sons-in-law, Mike, Brian, and Matt. She had a warm and generous heart. When younger, she helped her older sister with her ten children and was a beloved aunt to them. Family meant everything to her, and she was close to her own sisters Celestine and Kathlyn (Louise), and her husband's siblings – especially Mary, Gert, Kathleen, Evelyn, and Peggy.

She had a special devotion to St. Jude, to whom she attributed her own "finding the right man," and taught her children by example reliance on St. Anthony, but she had a great love for all the Saints, and above all the Blessed Mother. At the top of all her checks and envelopes, she always wrote "JMJ" – "Jesus, Mary, Joseph" in remembrance of whom she depended upon. She and Pat relied on prayer in all circumstances, and expected miracles, and her death after a long-suffering cross of Alzheimer's was beautiful and peaceful, a final gift from Heaven for a faithful daughter.

Visitation Friday 3pm – 8 pm with a 7 pm Rosary at the John N. Santeiu & Son Funeral Home. In state Saturday 9:30 am until the 10 am Funeral Mass at Church of the Divine Child.