Rose McDonnell Obituary

The kids and I miss you and Dad so much Mom. We wish we could have juse one more Thursday afternoon of tea and coffeecake like we used to. We'll never forget you.

Eulogy of Rose McDonnell

July 6, 2002

Our Lady of Charity Catholic Church



Good morning,



On behalf of my sister, Madonna, and our families, I want to thank you for being with us on this Scottish weather day (cool and wet) to celebrate our mother Rose’s life. We are truly grateful for the support and prayers everyone has offered us over the last several months in coping with illness and the loss of our parents.



If you are like me, you might be asking, how could we be mourning the loss of Rose just twelve weeks to the day after Dad’s passing? Although she was recovering from hip surgery, Mom looked physically great at Dad’s funeral, and was certainly strong emotionally. I would like to come back with my answer to that question in a moment. But first, I would like to tell you about mom’s life, which is a story of service, love and happiness.



As many of you know, Rose O’Donnell (yes she was THE first Rosie O’Donnell) was born in Glasgow, Scotland, July 11, 1919. One of eight children, Mom was the last living member of her family. Mom possessed the spirit of adventure, and was the only person from her family to immigrate to America. Mom moved to New York, and became a nanny for a famous family called the Warburgs. Mom loved New York City, and frequently reminisced with us about memories of theater, museums, dancing, Long Island and the little boy she took care of, Jonathan Warburg.



While on vacation back in Ireland, mom would meet dad, and they would wed in Chicago in 1956. Mom gave birth to two children, me in 1958, and Madonna in 1959. As children, we would become Mom’s greatest focus and source of joy in her life.



Mom had simple goals for us--to grow up to be good people, work hard and to go to college. Now growing up with Mom meant being out in the garden at the first sign of Spring until the first day of frost. Our yards always had sun umbrellas, swimming pools, birdbaths and beautiful flowers. Mom was a true sun goddess (this was the case even through the last few weeks of her life with her friend and Polish caregiver, Donna.)



Mom made new friends very easily—her warm and gregarious personality was usually the life of the party. She was blessed with a real charm and she knew it. Most would conclude that Rose was never shy about expressing her opinion, or telling us the stories of her life. She represented her Scottish heritage well with her thriftiness (Mom loved to discover good deals on just about anything.) And she loved her cats and dogs.



For someone who was almost 83, Mom would never admit to being a day over 39. She made friends easily with people of all generations. One of her closest friends for many years is Amy Lee, who even now is still only half her age. Mom enjoyed Amy, Ellen and Mary Lee, her treasured next door neighbors for almost 30 years.



Once her own children were raised, it was now time to serve and enjoy the grandchildren. Madonna and her children will always remember Grandma and Grandpa’s visits on Thursday afternoons, a routine for many years. Grandma would shop at the Entenmanns Thrift Shop on Wednesday (Senior Citizen Discount Day of course!) and bring the goodies for the grandkids over on Thursday.



Although she did not always show it, Mom was a lady of great faith. I can’t tell you how many times she would remind me that we “should live our lives while we are here because God can take us at a moment’s notice.” She never feared her own mortality, for she would say “when the Lord wants me, I am ready to go.”



So it was that twelve weeks ago in this church, it was Rose’s lifetime of service to others that was drawing to a close. My mother had raised her children, had celebrated and participated in the joy of eight grandchildren and had fought a difficult but successful struggle to help get one more year of life for her husband Kevin. Rose’s service on earth to others was now complete—this was the answer to my question—and as she had asked us many times over the last few weeks—she could finally go home.



Mom’s spirit will always be with us. Her body is gone, but her spirit will be here, in her children, grandchildren and the lives of those she touched.



And it’s not a bad idea to think of life as mom did--never looking back too much and never looking too far ahead, because life today is precious, and is what is important. So when you see homes with beautiful flowers, sun umbrellas, pools and birdbaths-remember our mother, grandmother, aunt and dear friend Rose!



Thanks and God Bless.

May God Bless you, Mom!