Rosemary Geraldine Garner

Rosie passed away Saturday, April 25, 2020 at home in Grand Blanc. She was the daughter of Joseph J. Garner and Donelda C. Kohls. She grew up in a big farm house in Roseville with a house full of siblings; there were three brothers and nine sisters. She went to school at Sacred Heart Catholic School from grades 1-12 until she graduated in 1969.

She overcame a lot of health issues as a child, she was affectionately known as "one of the three little ones," she was the third youngest of twelve. She had a heart of gold, she was quick to laugh and so easy to punk! You had to love her!!

She fulfilled a lifelong dream when she built a brand new home in Grand Blanc completely on her own. She joined her local parish, Holy Family, and was devout in the practice of her faith. She kept a pink rosary by her remote control because prayer was an integral part of her daily life. Rosie sponsored many different charities, Toys for Tots at Christmas and she worked in the Capuchin Soup Kitchen and served meals to the homeless. She was particularly devoted to the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, St. Jude's Hospital for Children and the warming centers in Detroit. She stepped up!

She was the queen of collectables and obsessed with rewards cards and contests. She actually filled a file cabinet keeping track of those entry forms and promotions. She truly believed in luck and she had it. When the lottery first opened in the State of Michigan, she won $50,000 in the early weeks that enabled her to buy her own place. It led to a lifetime of slots, Keno and lottery tickets. A casino trip with friends was one of her favorite ways to win the day.

Rosie had a pretty good job at Detroit Edison as a Customer Service Representative. She worked at Edison most of her adult life. There were times when all employees took their turn at "storm duty." She was always one of the first to volunteer for the extra hours and premium pay. The temporary "storm position" entailed sitting in your car to watch a downed LIVE wire to prevent inadvertent or accidental contact. Somehow she got in the way of that wire and was shocked off her feet and onto disability for a few weeks. She was fine, but she took it up a level when she showed up at family gatherings wrapped up in caution tape!

She had a dog "Buttons" who was also her discipline to physical therapy. She walked that dog twice a day every day and was out there walking hours before she left for work. It's important to mention her pet; he gave her nothing but joy. Buttons will be making the final journey with her.

On the feast of St. Nicholas (Dec. 6), tradition held that children who were good that year got a stocking filled with candy on his special day. Rosie and her sister Joyce drove all over town the night before hanging those stockings on the front doors of every one of their 30 nieces and nephews, every year. It was a wonderful act of kindness and a memory those kids won't soon forget.

She lived every day intentionally. She celebrated the little things, even a flower that bloomed in a bed of weeds. She saw beauty in the simple things.

"You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching,

Love like you'll never be hurt,

Sing like there's nobody listening,

And live like it's heaven on earth."