Rosemarie Pumilia Petty

We are deeply saddened by the loss of Rosemarie Pumilia Petty on October 5, 2016 in Austin, Texas at the age of 76 years young.

Rosemarie was a native Texan, and very proud of her Sicilian heritage. She attained a Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, and completed some Ph.D. work in Texas, Michigan, and Naples, Italy. Other credentials included education counseling, AIDS/HIV education, and drug/alcohol counseling.

Rosemarie taught History in San Antonio, Texas then English at Mohr High School and Counselor at Lincoln elementary, both in South Haven, Michigan. She also worked in the medical clinical counseling department of two major hospitals and a vocational rehabilitation facility.

Rosemarie’s mental health experience included vocational counseling with adults in a rehabilitation program for inmates from Jackson Federal Prison. She also specialized in counseling with survivors of child abuse. This resulted in working closely with mental health, children's protective services, and various levels of law enforcement and the court system.

After retirement Rosemarie continued working as a motivational speaker as well as work in a voluntary capacity with several organizations.

Rosemarie loved travel, music, cooking and was fiercely independent.

Rosemarie and her son Sean were bona fide history enthusiasts. Rosemarie wanted to see and do it all. She made good use of her time since moving to Austin in 2005 visiting many historic places in an around the hill country. In fact, there was an endless amount of things Rosemarie wanted to see and do all over this country. Her never-ending sense of adventure, wonder and enthusiasm was inspiring to all.

Rosemarie loved music. She could read music, play piano and really enjoyed singing (to a crowd). And having two sons who are professional musicians resulted in a whole new outlet for Rosemarie to enjoy this love of music. She was immensely proud of her two sons playing music and for them doing it together. She hosted musicians during Austin’s South by Southwest Music Festival where she started her famous Italian Lasagna Night for her son's guests.

Rosemarie loved to cook. Especially the food from her family's roots; old-country Sicilian cooking. For those that she loved, she made recipe notebooks as gifts (but we’re all certain she left out an ingredient or two so that hers would remain superior). Three of her closest friends, friends of different ethnic backgrounds would organize a small dinner party and each would demonstrate preparation of their unique dish; lots of joy went into these evenings.

Rosemarie had just moved into an independent living apartment for seniors where she made lots of new friends and was busy organizing events. She had already set up (as Pastor Bob noted) ‘Rosemarie’s Library’. She even suggested church be held in the movie theater there just six weeks prior. Pastor Bob organized a very thoughtful (and humorous) Memorial for Rosemarie in their newly-deemed church; music included. Rosemarie would have been delighted and we are grateful.

Rosemarie will also be deeply missed by her extended musical rock-n-roll family where she was known as Mama Spits; many knew and loved her.

Rosemarie is survived by her two sons, Sean Wood of Austin, Texas and Erin Wood of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Also her Aunt Jackie and Uncle Buddy of Houston, Texas. Rosemarie was preceded in death by her parents Rosa Francis Pumilia and Robert Joseph Petty, her sister Stella Mae, her brother Sam as well as her Uncle Junior.

Rosemarie’s sons Sean and Erin are planning a memorial in late November; one that is unique, filled with music and with lots of joy as was Rosemarie.