Sunday, May 3, 2020
My condolences to Rose Mary's nieces, nephews and friends over the years since it's not that many years that I have known her myself, actually! I got to know who she was merely by sitting in my pew each Sunday at the 11:30 Mass at St. Joseph Church in Maplewood and seeing her walking to the usual pew she chose each week accompanied with two of her friends. One day I met Maria Lombardino in the church parking lot when they were having a picnic there. We were waiting in line for a hot dog and I heard this person singing to herself, my opportunity to strike a conversation and eventually became friendly with Maria to this day....Knowing Maria then, I learned she lived next door to Rosemary with her Polish Aide, Irina, and that this lady was at least 100 years old. In time I got to have conversations with Rosemary, Irina, and Maria after Mass for a few moments. Rosemary always wanted to visit the St. Joseph Shrine in Stirling and since my chorus rehearses there a Nativity weekend with 400 nativities would be on exhibit that Christmas season and all three of them driven by another friend Kay Nota came we toured the exhibit and we sat together followed by dinner at the Huck Finn Diner where I really got to enjoy Rosemary's company since she sat next to me. Since then we have continued to greet each other at church. I learned that every day Maria goes next door to say the Rosary with Rosemary and Irina. On her 103rd birthday, I had the opportunity to sing Happy Birthday to her over the phone and cherish the the last moments to remember this very fine lady. Life has its unusual paths to meet up with new friends and I'm glad I had that opportunity to know Rosemary.....With such love and prayers, Trina Pietz
