Rosemary Holland Gidionsen

March 15, 2021, of St. Louis was born in 1928 to the late Joseph Francis Holland and Abilene Conley Holland, joining her big brother Bill. Dearest mother of Maria (Jack) Kilker, Abbie Gidionsen, Rosemary “Roro” (Leo) Gliedt, D.J. (Christine) Gidionsen, Beth (Joe) Neill, and the late infant Mark Holland Gidionsen. Beloved Grammy to her grandchildren John, Joey, Tommy and Clare Neill, Mary Kate Gliedt and Annie Gidionsen. Former wife of the late Don Gidionsen. Our beloved aunt, cousin and friend.

Rosemary’s two great loves were her family and Maryville University. Rosemary attended Maryville College on Meramec Street and was devoted to the Society of the Sacred Heart and to The Blessed Mother throughout her life. After graduation in 1950, she attended Washington University Art School as a special student and went to work at downtown Famous-Barr illustrating their advertisements until her marriage in 1953. She illustrated two children’s books while working from home, 'The Predicament of Gregory Gray' and 'Family Reunion.' In 1969, when her children were older, Rosemary combined her loves by succeeding her aunt Dorothy Garesche Holland in the role of Alumni Director at Maryville.

In 1977 Rosemary transitioned to the President’s Office at Maryville, working for four Presidents as an invaluable resource while the school transitioned from religious to lay Presidents and to an independent institution with a Sacred Heart heritage. Her colleagues respected and valued her knowledge, experience and faith. She received Maryville’s Alumni Loyalty Award in 1990 and the Cor Unum Award from the Associated Alumnae & Alumni of the Sacred Heart in 2011. Upon her retirement in 2004, the Sacred Heart Chapel on Maryville’s campus was named in Rosemary’s honor and her children endowed an academic scholarship in her name.

Rosemary was a mentor and beloved friend to many. She especially enjoyed travel to Naples while at Maryville and after her retirement to meet with friends, alumni and donors. She traveled with Maryville friends to Rome in 1988 to attend the canonization of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, a prominent early member of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart. She journeyed to Ireland in 2008 to celebrate her 80th birthday with her beloved children, grandchildren, sons-in-law, daughter-in-law and cousins in County Clare. She traveled with her children to Miami in 2011 to accept the Cor Unum Award, and Rosemary made countless trip to Douglas, Michigan with her children and grandchildren. Rosemary will be greatly missed and fondly remembered.

The family thanks Rosemary’s caregivers, including Ann James and all the doctors, nurses and techs on the Neurology Floor at Missouri Baptist Hospital. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Rosemary Holland Gidionsen Endowed Scholarship at Maryville University, 13550 Conway Road, St. Louis, MO 63141 or to a charity of one's choice. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 20, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis (New Cathedral), 4431 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108, preceded by visitation at noon in the church. The service will be livestreamed on the Cathedral website at 1pm CDT. Simply click the "join livestream" link below under "Services" at 12:55pm, and then click "Mass livestream" at the top of the Cathedral's website page.

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