Born in Lexington, TN on September 24, 1936, Rose Marie attended Lexington High School and later the University of Tennessee. She graduated with a degree in Home Economics and Child Development.
After meeting her husband, Joel, the brother of her high school friend Marjorie, the couple married on June 30, 1956. During their 70 year marriage Rose Marie, Joel, and their 3 children lived in Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama. They returned to TN in 1972 to make Chattanooga their home.
Rose Marie worked as the director of Hixson First Baptist Child Development Center for many years. She impacted the lives of hundreds of children and their families during her tenure there.
After retiring, Rose Marie and Joel indulged in their passion for travel and combined it with their love of mission work by joining Campers on Mission as full-time volunteers for several years.
Rose Marie and Joel are members of Stuart Heights Baptist Church.
She is preceded in death by her mother, Connie King Roberts, and her father Oscar Houston Roberts of Lexington, TN.
Survivors include her husband, Joel O’Brien; daughters Peggy Shelton and Beverly Lempicki; son, Michael O’Brien; grandchildren, Conner Shelton, Greg (Heather) O’Brien, Caitlin (Luke) Speicher, Chelsea (Matt) Madron, Jesse (Karlee) Lempicki and Wyatt (Hannah) Lempicki; and great grandchildren Caroline and Adalyn O’Brien, Avery, Oak, Eileigh, and Miller Speicher, Reese Paolucci and Colton Madron, and Emmaline Lempicki.
The family would like to say a special thanks to the staff of Morning Pointe of Hixson and Lifecare Center of Hixson for all their love and care.
Visitation will be held at Chattanooga Funeral Home–North Chapel, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, TN 37343, on Sunday, March 29, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
A Funeral Service will be held at Chattanooga Funeral Home–North Chapel, on Monday, March 30, 2026, at 10:00 am with Sr. Pastor Dr. Brian K. Smith and Pastor Stephen Johnson both of Stuart Heights Baptist Church officiating.
She will be laid to rest with a private family service at Hamilton Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Tennessee Campers on Mission or Stuart Heights Baptist Church, links and addresses are down below.
Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory, and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, TN 37343.
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com
