Rose Mary Killalea

not understand why none of their group ever came back

after crawling up the lily stems to the top of the water.

They promised each other that the next one who was

called to make the upward climb would return and tell

what had happened to them. Soon one of them felt an

urgent impulse to seek the surface; she rested herself on

the top of a lily pad and went through a glorious

transformation which made him a dragonfly with

beautiful wings. In vain she tried to keep her promise;

flying back and forth over the pond, she peered down at

her friends below. Then she realized that even if they

could see her they would not recognize such a radiant

creature as one of their number.

The fact that we cannot see our friends or family

or communicate with them after the transformation, which

we call death, is no proof that they cease to exist.”

Rose Mary Riley Killalea, 95, of Charlotte passed away on August 8, 2016. Born February 4, 1921 in Brooklyn, NY, she was the 7th child of Anna and William Riley. Rose lived most of her childhood and young adult life in Brooklyn with her family and later married Raymond F. Killalea in 1945. They moved with J.P. Stevens Textile Company in 1954 to Cheraw, S.C. Then in 1965 they were transferred to Charlotte with Stevens where Mr. Killalea resumed his position with Stevens at the Southpark Corporate Offices.

Mrs. Killalea was preceded in death by her husband Raymond of 63 years, grandson, Grayson McGuire and her sister and best friend for life, Dorothy Kenan. She is survived by her son, Gregory (Janet) Killalea of Charlotte; grandson, Ryan Killalea of Dallas, TX; daughter, Joan Killalea McGuire of Marion, NC; grandsons, John (Amanda) McGuire and Hunter McGuire; granddaughter, Riley McGuire of Marion and great-grandson, Cade Hemphill.

Most of Mrs. Killalea’s adult life she spent as a homemaker, but at the age of 55, she went back to work at the new Belk’s at Southpark and retired from there in 1992 after 20 years of service.

Visitation will be at McEwen Pineville Chapel on Thursday August 11 from 4:30 pm until 7:30 pm. A graveside service will be held at a later date at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Louisville, KY for both Mr. and Mrs. Killalea.