Obituary of Rosemarie Walschlager

ROSEMARIE WALSCHLAGER Mother Ann Schlamadinger - Deceased Father Francis Schlamadinger - Deceased Spouse George Walschlager; married 61 years as of Thanksgiving 2016; married at Holy Trinity Church in Chicago, Illinois Children and Spouses • Wendy Geralyn Iravedra and Gonzalo Iravedra (spouse) • Gerard Joseph Walschlager and Valerie Fife-Walschlager (spouse) • Scott Gerard Walschlager and Marna Walschlager (spouse) Grandchildren • Casey Coleman, 28 years old • Danielle Christensen (22 years old) and Cody Christensen (spouse) • Forrest Walschlager, 18 years old • Emma Walschlager, 8 years old • Ethan Walschlager, 5 years old Sister • Joanne Wheeler Aunts • Wanda Jodlowski • Helen Jedlowski - Deceased Special Friend • June Kolodziej - best friends since they were Special Pets • Taffy the dog • Misty the cat • Thor the "grand-dog" Special Hobbies • Spending time with her children • Dancing • Painting and Drawing • Gardening • Baking Favorite Sports Rodeo! Favorite Songs • "Be Not Afraid" - the Hymn • "White Wedding" - Billy Idol • "It Had to be You" • Transiberian Orchestra Christmas Albums Schools Attended • Hamline Grammar School • Gage Park High School Places of Work • Worked at various retail stores and for the telephone company as an operator • Her favorite: volunteering at the hospital near home BRIEF LIFE STORY Rosemarie grew up in poverty on the south side of Chicago in the Stockyards. Her mother was her primary caregiver as her father was rarely home. She did not have a fairy tale childhood or the love of two parents. Her mother did love her very much and did all she could to take care of her and her sister in very desperate times. Poverty has a way of making you or breaking you. Rosemarie found solace in her faith and was very close to God all of her life. She found refuge in Him and the strength to become a strong minded, determined woman. She went to work at 16 and helped support her mother and her sister. She met her husband of 61 years, George, at a wedding she was attending with her best friend June. June is George's cousin. They fell in love and Rosemarie at 17, and George at 20 married in 1955 at Holy Trinity Church in Chicago, Illinois. Rosemarie became the ultimate home maker and, loving the thought of having children, went on to have three of her own: Wendy, Gerard and Scott, from 1960 through 1964. The children were and continued to be the light of her life. Rosemarie selflessly devoted herself to raising these three children and always being there when they needed her. Rosemarie loved her grandchildren dearly as well and was blessed with 5 of them. She helped care for and raise some of them, always the consummate hug-able, lovable, giving grandma. Every activity she planned for her children and grandchildren had them at the focal point - always capturing wonderful memories for them as well as herself and their grandpa. Her children and grandchildren were her life. Rosemarie and George enjoyed the years to come with the children and grandchildren. At times, they vacationed near home, visited their sons in Colorado and California, hiked or walked in nearby forest preserves or headed to Niagra Falls and Las Vegas for the wedding of their daughter. Rosemarie took care of everyone and anyone before herself. Caregiver for her mother, her husband, her children, her friends, her mother-in-law and father-in-law, her aunts, her cousin and even her "grand dog" Thor! She always wanted to be a nurse, and her heart, her kindness and her compassion were evident in everything she said and did. She was devoted to God and to the Blessed Virgin Mary and they spoke through her. Her loving, giving, caring nature was evident to family and friends, and anyone who met her. After living many years and making many memories in Chicago, Rosemarie and George moved to Florida, nearby her daughter and son-in-law. It was time for someone else to help take care of them. George devotedly cared for Rosemarie not only in Chicago but here in Florida. Wonderful memories were made of times sitting on the patio enjoying the warm breezes, pool and tropical surroundings, trips to Naples, Las Vegas, and Thanksgivings and Christmases together at their new home. Unfortunately, it didn't last long enough as the good Lord decided it was time for Rosemarie to come home, and her beautiful, gentle, loving, giving soul went back to him on December 14.