Rose Mary (Murphy) Sifferman, age 77 of Carrollton, Texas passed away on June 7, 2019. She passed peacefully after a multi-year journey with Alzheimer’s. Her family is grateful for all the caregivers who eased her pain and transition.
Rose Mary was born on October 12, 1941 in New Haven, Connecticut, to Margaret Mary (O'Neill) and James Francis Murphy.
At a young age, her family moved to the Northwest Indiana area. She attended St. Francis University in Fort Wayne, Indiana, for her undergraduate degree and Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, for her Master’s in Education. While at Purdue in the mid-1960s, she met the love of her life, Thomas (“Tom”) Raymond Sifferman in the graduate dorm laundry room. She married Tom on June 8, 1968 in Griffith, Indiana.
While Tom was working to complete his graduate work, Rose Mary supported the new family as she launched her teaching career focused on special education and early childhood learning. In 1970, Rose Mary and Tom moved to Ponca City, Oklahoma with their newborn daughter, Nancy. Two more children (Joe and Laura) were born in Ponca City before the family moved to Plano, Texas in 1982. The mid 1990’s were spent in San Diego, California, before moving to The Woodlands, Texas. Rose Mary and Tom moved back to the Dallas area in the last decade in order to be closer to family.
Rose Mary adored her family and friends, treasured traveling with her family, and delighted in the thrill of the hunt for various collectibles, especially blue-patterned dishes. She had an abundance of love to give, saw the best in everyone, and always rooted for the underdog. She was modest and strived to make others comfortable, whether that meant providing a meal, a listening ear, or a comforting shoulder to cry upon. She died one day short of her 51st wedding anniversary with her marriage and family representing her greatest love and legacy.
Rose Mary is survived by: husband Tom Sifferman of Carrollton, Texas; children Nancy (husband Jason) Charalambides of Baltimore, Maryland, Joe (wife Angie Adams) Sifferman of Plano, Texas, and Laura Sifferman of Allen, Texas; grandchildren: Avery Adams Sifferman, Sloane Adams Sifferman, and Evelthon Raymond Charalambides; and sister Margo Murphy of Tucson, Arizona.
A private family inurnment will be held at Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Plano.
A memorial mass will be held on Saturday, August 3, 2019 at 11:00 AM at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, located at 5100 West Plano Parkway, Plano, Texas 75093.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, Faith Presbyterian Hospice of Dallas, Texas, or a charitable cause of your choice.
Ted Dickey West Funeral Home in Dallas, Texas has charge of arrangements.
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