Rosemary Buono Roe, well-known community leader and activist, passed away peacefully to be with the Lord on August 1, 2015 at Memorial Hermann Hospital in The Woodlands. She was surrounded by her family and friends.
She was born Rosemary Agnes Kolaci, October 2, 1941, in Hackensack, New Jersey, the child of Rudolph and Anastazie Berna Kolaci, immigrants from Czechoslovakia. Her parents instilled in her a deep love and pride for America, and inspired her with their desire and dedication to become citizens.
A seminal moment occurred in her life, when, at 16, Rosemary traveled to Czechoslovakia to visit relatives. That country was still in the grips of the Soviet Union and the repression and lack of freedom. Shocked and repelled at what she saw, she was profoundly changed by the experience. Pride, love and patriotism for America guided her from that day forward. A year later, she graduated as valedictorian from Wood-Ridge High School. She later attended Wood Business School.
Rosemary’s marriage to her first husband, Carmen Buono, ended after 14 years. The couple had three children. Changing direction to her life, she moved to Houston in 1976. Discovering that the patriotism in Texas matched her own passion for her country, she realized she had found a home.
Soon after, she met Cliff Roe, whom she married in 1979. The couple moved to The Woodlands, Texas, where she resided the rest of her life.
A lifelong Republican, instilled with core conservative values by her patriotic parents, she became strongly involved with the Republican Party. She was SD 4 state Republican executive committeewoman from 2008 until her death. She served as a Republican precinct chair for 30 years; an election judge since 1984; the Montgomery County Senatorial District 4 convention secretary; Senatorial District 4 convention nominations chairman; and served on the Vacancy, Leadership & Organizations, Candidates, Finance and Outreach Committees and the advisory board. She was also the Republican National Hispanic Assembly state secretary and a delegate to the Senatorial District 4 and Republican state conventions since 1984.
Rosemary was also president of The Woodlands Area Republican Women from 1996-1998, also serving as chaplain, vice president of membership, newsletter and awards chairman. She was a member of the Montgomery County Republican Women since 2000 and served as Americanism chairman. In 1996, Rosemary attended the GOP National Convention in San Diego as delegate alternate. She was also a delegate to the National Federation of Republican Women’s Convention in 1997 in New Orleans and a delegate to the Texas Federation of Republican Women’s state convention.
In addition to her active political life, Rosemary was deeply involved with her community. She served both as president and vice president to Municipal Utility District 47 and also served in that same capacity on the Woodlands Joint Powers Agency board of trustees.
Her other involvements included serving as commissioner for the Montgomery County Housing Authority, a charter member of the county Right to Life organization, a member of the Texas Right to Life. She served as a judge for the Right to Life Student Oratory Contest in 2007 and 2008.
Rosemary was a director on the board of the Barbara Loper Brain Injury Foundation, a member of Texas for Equal Justice, and a Woodlands Watch Block Chairman. Additionally, she served on the county’s Women’s Center Advisory Board, the Champions of CASA Board and The Woodlands Governance Steering Committee.
In 1996, Rosemary received the TFRW Tribute to Women Award for Woodlands, and in 1998, she received the Woman of Distinction award from the Women’s Council of Organizations. She was an active realtor since 1987, and was a member of the Association of Realtors.
A long-time member of The Woodlands Church, Rosemary was a woman of great faith. She pursued excellence in all aspects of her life, taking genuine interest in knowing each person she came in contact with. Family was extremely important to her. Despite all her public achievements, she always said that her greatest achievements were her loving husband, Cliff, for almost 36 years, her 3 children, and 4 great grandchildren. She spoke about how her granddaughter with Down Syndrome, Janelle, had brought the family closer to God.
Rosemary’s philosophy was simple. She believed that each of us has a responsibility to our faith, our family, and to our country. Service was her way of giving back for all the blessings she received from God and being an American. She felt it is important for all Republicans to unite and work together for a better Texas and America by fighting for conservative principles. She often quoted what Ronald Reagan once said, “With God’s help America’s greatest chapter is still to be written for the best is yet to come”. Her family hopes that her legacy will live on through people stepping up in their community and to act and not be complacent in the events that are taking place in America and help author America’s greatest chapter. She wanted to build a better future for her grandchildren and I hope you will be inspired to take part in that dream becoming a reality.
Rosemary is survived by her husband Cliff Roe, her 3 children Darin Buono; Lori King Cohn and husband Jack Cohn; and Sherry Buono, and 4 grandchildren: Kayla, Jordan, Janelle and Jesse King. She has extended family across the country including her brother Rudolph Kolaci of New Jersey, in-laws and cousins in Florida, Arizona and California and numerous friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents Rudolph and Anastazie Kolaci, aunts, cousins and numerous loving pets.
A memorial service will be on Saturday, August 22, 2015 at 11am at the Chapel of The Woodlands Church. Forest Park Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements and there will be a time to visit family on Friday, August 21, 2015 from 5-9pm. For more information contact Catherine Mayfield at 936-321-5115.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made at the Rosemary Roe Memorial Fund at Compass Bank at GoFundMe.
“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' ” Matthew 25:21
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