Rosemary Connelly

Rosemary went peacefully home to the Lord, Thursday evening February 16, 2017 at Franke Tobey Jones. She has joined her husband, Jack, and many friends and relatives. She will meet her mother for the first time. Rosemary learned about responsibility, self-reliance, and determination at an early age. Her parents died when she was a child. She grew up during the depression and learned to accept what the day provided and to make the most of life's opportunities. As a child, she was an exceptional student, and a bright and talented writer. She was an avid baseball and tennis player. She graduated from the University of Illinois where she met her husband, Jack Connelly. Together they moved to Washington State and raised a family of six children. She taught her children to be real, to accept the day's challenges with composure and poise, and to give one's best under any circumstance. Rosemary was a dedicated and inspiring mother. Her inspiration occurred through the actions and attitude with which she lived her life and through the resiliency she always demonstrated in the face of any challenge. She was a woman of deep devotion and prayer, embracing wisdom, simplicity and humility. She was profoundly unselfish, uncommonly generous with her time, talken and treasure, smart, wise and disciplined. She was most present when she could help people in need - encouraging, supporting, motivating, and assuring that the sun will rise tomorrow. Her actions were quiet, but she had an uncanny ability to know when they were needed. She'd bring over a meal, a book, or invites someone over for a turkey sandwich. She always knew when one of her children coughed, or needed a warm blanket during the night. She truly took to heart the adage that there is no limit to what can be accomplished if one doesn't care who gets the applause. Organized and helpful she gave advice when asked and directed when needed. She loved gatherings with Jack and kept the conversations going when no one else could find the right words. She listened to her children's thoughts with a keen and insightful ear. Rosemary was devoted to her family, her neighbors and her fellow parishioners. She absolutely loved St. John Bosco Church and the various ministries she volunteered for. She recognized the importance of the Ministry of the Donut after Mass. Above all Rosemary made a profound impact on the lives of the six children she raised. She is survived by all six of her children, Kathy Carrico (Houston TX.), Maureen McPartland (Pat) (Warden, WA), Jack Jr. (Angela) (Tacoma), Linda Snyder (Dan, deceased) (Tacoma), Mike (Tacoma) and Tim (Wendy) (Minneapolis, Minn). She had 22 grandchildren, and 15 great grandchildren, with two on the way. The family would like to thank all of the staff at Franke Tobey Jones who worked with Rosemary over the last three years. Their work was absolutely outstanding and their hearts were beautiful. A special thanks to Jocko, mom's Boston Terrier, for being her very special companion these past years and to Carole Coverdale, who through her twice a day daily walks for the past three years enabled Jocko to stay with mom even as her health declined. We are so very grateful. Funeral Services will be held at St. John Bosco Church in Lakewood at 10am, Friday, Feb. 24th, (rosary preceding at 9:30am). A Rosary service will be held at Gaffney Funeral Home, 1001 S. Yakima Ave., Tacoma, Thurs. evening, Feb. 23, at 7pm.