Mom left us with the peace and grace with which she lived her entire life. She was predeceased by her husband, Ed, and by her adored son, Edward Patrick "Trey". Loved deeply by her daughters, Mary Beth Williamson (John) and Caroline Ames (Gord), her daughter-in-law Lisa, grandchildren Thomas (Lauren), Alexandra (Iain), Chris (Alexanya), Katherine and Sean, as well as great-grandchildren Laila, Hayden, Finn and Theo.
Roey (aka Ro, aka Grandma Rosemommy) was born in Brooklyn, New York, one of four children and the only daughter of her Italian father and Irish mother. While she dreamed then and always of going to college, her traditional father determined that secretarial school was the right choice for a young woman. Upon graduation, Mom began work across the Brooklyn Bridge in Manhattan at Ruthrauff & Ryan, an ad agency located in the Chrysler building. It was there she met Ed who noticed this brown-eyed beauty and eventually summoned the nerve to ask her out; Ed, as mom always said, had great charisma so she agreed! Together with their agency friends, they embraced Manhattan in the ‘50’s with safaris to Central Park, cheesecake at Lindy’s and a more than occasional martini. When they married in 1954, the adventures continued. Eventually, the happy couple decided to bring Madison Avenue to Toronto where they moved and later welcomed Trey, Mary Beth and Caroline into their lives - lucky, lucky us! Mom and Dad created a home and life for us full of love and laughter. They showed us every day what a relationship grounded in love, friendship and respect looked like. And they showed us how to embrace life and have fun with many epic parties, family events and so many dinners filled with laughter.
Mom was a lady with style, kindness, grace, selflessness and a warm sense of humour. She was our north-star and confidante, always in our corner. Mom was a gracious host of her friends and our friends. She shared her love of all arts with us through visits to art galleries or attending theatre, ballet or music performances. Mom was an active ager long before the phrase was coined through her tennis, golf, bridge, gourmet club, and travels to visit friends and family. As a grandma, she was filled with joy by each of her grandchildren – always bringing freshly baked cookies, singing “Little Orphan Annie” to them, dancing in her living room with them and attending their school plays or sporting events. Her kindness extended to others as she was a lifelong volunteer helping to improve the lives of those in her community. Mom was honoured working with the St Vincent de Paul Society where she was instrumental in championing an award-winning, non-profit housing project, Gower Park Place, and then leading a weekly coffee & chat to build community at Gower.
For almost 10 years, Rosemarie was cared for with love and devotion by Gina Cayao & Tes Deysolong as well as the compassionate Leaside Retirement Home 5th floor team and Spectrum caregivers for which her family will be forever grateful. A Celebration of Life mass will take place at St. Gabriel’s Parish, 670 Sheppard Ave East at 11:00 am on Saturday, September 21st. Friends may call at Kane-Jerrett Funeral Home, 6191 Yonge St, on Thursday, September 19th from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm. In lieu of flowers, please remember Rosemarie by contributing to The Alzheimer Society of Toronto or the St Vincent de Paul Toronto Central Council.
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