Rosemary Clare Root, age 91, of Norman, Oklahoma passed away on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. She was born June 13, 1933 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Charles Harry Short and Rose Margaret (Burns) Short. She was preceded in death by her husband Paul John Root. She is survived by her son Chris Root and wife Jeanne; daughter Paula Root and husband Richard Cudjo; daughter Amy Sine; daughter Marybeth Jones and fiancé Robert Ahboah; and grandchildren Chris, Nick, Victoria, Meg, Kate, Beth, Connor, Brennah, Kathryn, and Robert.
Rosemary graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Honors English Literature. While there, she was a member of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority and met the love of her life Paul. She later earned a Master of Library Science from the University of Oklahoma. Rosemary worked in the library at the University of Maryland, the Oklahoma Department of Education, and was office manager for Petroleum and Geological Engineering, Inc.
Growing up in Pittsburgh, Rosemary had many fond memories of visiting the family farm, selling vegetables, sledding with her brothers, ice skating, and loved riding the trolley with her friends to South Hills High School. Rosemary led an active life enjoying skiing in Colorado, cross country road trips with her family, gardening, swimming, aqua aerobics, and of course OU football. She was a lifelong learner, taking many courses at OU OLLI and other community settings, and participated in the Norman Reviewer’s and University Women’s book clubs. She was poetic and imaginative, often creating clever songs, poems, and whimsical artistic sketches.
Family was important to Rosemary, and she made holidays special for her children and ten grandchildren. The family has special memories of beautiful handmade stockings and Christmas gift bags lining the staircase for the grandchildren. There were Easter egg hunts with eggs so well hidden that some may still be in the backyard.
Rosemary was a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother and is already tremendously missed.
Serving as honorary pallbearers are Rosemary’s grandchildren Christopher Cudjo, Nicholas Cudjo, Victoria Cudjo, Margaret Sine, Kathryn Sine, Elizabeth Sine, Connor Jones, Brennah Wilson, Kathryn Jones, and Robert Jones.
Rosemary will be laid to rest at Union Dale Cemetery in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
