Rosemary Rooney

Rosemary “Rose” (Pettis) Rooney, 79, of Eau Claire WI, joined her Heavenly Father on a sunny morning in January 2025 with her family by her side. Rose was the second child and oldest daughter born to Marcella (Zingshiem) and Everett Pettis on a summer day in 1945. Rose grew up in rural Osseo and attended Osseo-Fairchild schools. After graduation, she set out to make her mark on the world, and she did just that with her bright smile, sparkling eyes, and generous spirit.

Rose met Patrick Rooney while working at Heckel’s Big Steer Restaurant, and they married in December 1964. They welcomed two daughters, Michele and Monica, into the world over the following three years. Recently, Rose proudly told friends and acquaintances that she and Pat had been married for 60 years, and she playfully added with a wink and a grin, “Can you believe it?”

Rosemary took delight in interacting with people and sought opportunities to foster relationships, whether it was mixing paint at Sears, pressing suits at Adelman’s Dry Cleaning, or lining up golf carts at Pine Meadow. Rose worked alongside Pat on many business ventures, including their family restaurant, Mom’s Carry Out in Bloomer WI and Highland Plumbing Company in Eau Claire WI. They were great partners in business and in life. Rose loved traveling, and she and Pat spent many cold winters in warm places. Arizona was one of her favorites, and she could recount every detail of every trip, down to the shape of the cacti in the desert and the clouds in the sky on a specific day.

God blessed Rose with tremendous talent in needlepoint, and she embroidered beautiful pillowcases and quilts that she loved to gift. She made her special fudge every year for Christmas and shared it with family, friends, neighbors, and the mail carrier. Rose had a green thumb, and something lush and beautiful grew in every room of the house. She enthusiastically took slips of plants offered by family and friends and nurtured them with loving care, making sure to take slips from those plants to grow something beautiful to bestow upon another plant-lover. The greatest gift the Lord gave Rosemary was the gift of strength. In her lifetime, Rosemary was faced with incredible challenges, but she climbed those mountains like they were pebbles in her path. She fought pancreatic cancer with grace and dignity. When she won that battle and was faced with other health challenges, she squared her shoulders, put a smile on her face, and looked at life from a different angle.

Rose had a kind heart, and she treated all with respect, kindness, and compassion. She made friends wherever she went, and she loved to visit with anyone. Her family teased that she could get on a bus at one stop and make six life-long friends before the next stop. She cared deeply for all the people in her life, but her greatest pride and love was for her family. She frequently shared stories of her daughters and their families. Nothing brought a smile to her face faster or as often as her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Rosemary is preceded in death by her infant son, Daniel; parents, Marcella and Everett Pettis; beloved sister, Bernadette Walker and brother-in-law, Lynn Walker; and sister-in-law, Karin Pettis. She is survived by her devoted and loving husband, Patrick; daughters Michele Anderson and Monica (Robert) Bauer; grandchildren, Ben (Jackie) Anderson Sr., and Cory (Amber) Bauer and Kyle (Anna) Bauer; great-grandchildren, Ben Anderson Jr., Carter Loken and Dawson Bauer, and Harper and Briggs Bauer; brothers, Gary (Dianne) Pettis, Tom Pettis, and Bob (Sally) Pettis. She also leaves behind numerous extended family members and friends.

Rosemary’s family offers much gratitude to the many doctors and nurses who cared for her at Mayo Clinic in Eau Claire and Rochester. Special thanks is given to Dr. Timothy Burns and staff in the Cancer Center and to the nurses in the Emergency Department in Eau Claire.

A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 AM, Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Eau Claire. A prayer service will be held at 4:45 PM, Monday evening, January 20, 2025 at Hulke Family Funeral Home. Visitation will immediately follow until 7:00 PM. There will be no visitation held at the church prior to the Mass on Tuesday morning.

To share your memories and condolences, please visit online at www.hulkefamilyfh.com.

Hulke Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 3209 Rudolph Road, Eau Claire, WI 54701 is assisting the family with the arrangements. 

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