Rosemary Head

Rosemary Head, age 59 of Sterling Heights, passed away peacefully in the arms of her loving family on Sunday, March 27, 2016. She was born August 4, 1956 in Highland Park, Michigan, daughter of Alger and Irene (nee: Gorkowski) Ignash.Many may remember this smiling face as the warm & engaging sales representative who worked for Crank's Banquet Hall on Hoover Road in Warren for many years. Helping people plan menus and occasions was the perfect venue for this special lady as she loved to see her patrons happy and satisfied,…and she accomplished it all with such panache.Then, life threw Rosemary a curve ball.For quite some time, Rosemary exerted her utmost in the battle against cancer,…right up to the end. As her four children eluded to upon making her final arrangements, losing their Mom was made immeasurably easier through the timeline both she and they were given,…and they each did their best to make the most of that time together. From the gifted conversations, to the many memory-gathering moments, her kids came away with a window into Rosemary's life that is shared, herein, from a unique and interesting perspective.Whereas this obituary writer is usually provided with a list of pastimes and highlights respective to the loved one at hand, Rosemary's children offered something of a different nature,…almost as if their Mom was being interviewed in the time just prior to her passing. So with that, I give you "the interview."Q. What are some of the favorite places you've visited in life?A. At the top of the list would have to be Mexico because "it is so beautiful there." And of course, the Bavarian village of Frankenmuth is always special because "it is a tradition." And there's no mistaking the family cottage in Caseville as "I loved it for its peacefulness and for a quick getaway."Q. What is something you enjoyed?A. Bowling, hanging out with my children, and attending family gatherings. (Whether in the mixed leagues she competed in, or simply rolling a few with family or friends, bowling was one of those Americana sports that Rosemary truly enjoyed. As for her children and the family gatherings, they meant the world to her and there was never getting enough. Her heart simply could never be too full to accommodate more love and happy memories.)Q. What is important to you?A. Spending time with my children and family, especially during the annual get-togethers over Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. (At what were times infused with deep love and affection, Rosemary always found some of her greatest joys and sentiments around those two end-of-the-year holidays that simply seemed to make the world a happier place.Q. What were some of your earliest ambitions?A. To be a Nun. (Rosemary possessed a deep and abiding faith that seemed to call to her in the period of her youth. Though she never ventured down the path of religious service, there was no mistaking her love for God, nor the inner peace that accompanied her beliefs. All one needs to do is meet her four children,…and you will see the face of God. That's a gift and a testament of a woman who knew how to love beyond herself. Rosemary may not have worn a habit, but she reached out with the heart of a servant which was manifested in the four precious lives that God entrusted to her care,…lives that speak to the love she exuded,…and lived.Q. What makes you smile?A. Babies! (And isn't that the perfect "Mom answer?")Q. What was your biggest adventure?A. Zip-Lining (in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico) because "it was an experience outside of my comfort zone." Q. What was your proudest moment in life?A. Finding out, while sick, how many lives I touched,…I had no idea. (When one is busy about caring for the needs of others, you just don't stop to take an account of the varied lives and characters that cross your path on any given day,…and that defines how Rosemary went about life, immersed in the lives of so many as she was used to lend a hand, lift a spirit, or simply be there for no reason at all.)Again, this is not derived from an actual interview,…rather, is a composite of some memorable conversations shared with a mother and her cherubs,…which, by the way, have turned out quite awesome and are their own personal success stories, to the credit of Rosemary. And in that vein,…there was a quote that meant a great deal to Rosemary, one that she shared quite often that reads, "God doesn't require us to succeed, He only requires us to try,"…as spoken by the Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.A loving wife, mother and sister, Rosemary's greatest gift to us all is the legacy she leaves of the love shared and the lives changed in her, seemingly, short time this side of Heaven. Though her passing comes far too soon, those who were blessed to meet this wonderful lady can attest to the goodness of God and His hand upon her life. She will be missed beyond words, and loved beyond measure. Her battles are done,…she fought the good fight of faith,…may she, now, rest in peace. Rosemary was the beloved wife of Russell Head Sr., and dearest mother of Russell Head Jr., Angela Head, Milene (Jason) Farkas, and Douglas Head. Loving sister of Larry (Chris) Ignash, Dan (Vicki) Ignash, Gary Ignash, Michael (Donna) Ignash, Patricia Wartella, Karen Ignash, Peggy (Ken) Dudley, and the late Stephen Ignash. Visitation for Rosemary will take place on Tuesday, March 29th from 5-9pm and Wednesday from 2-9 pm, with a 6:30 pm Rosary Service, at the D.S. Temrowski & Sons Funeral Home, 30009 Hoover Road at Common (12 ½ Mile Rd) in Warren. She will lie in state on Thursday from 9:30 am until time of the Funeral Mass at 10:00 am at St. Mary, Our Lady Queen of Families Catholic Church – St. Clement Site, 8075 Ritter Avenue, Center Line, MI 48015. The liturgy will be celebrated by Reverend Father's, Bill Rutkowski and Robert Bauer.Memorial donations are welcomed to St. Mary, Our Lady Queen of Families Catholic Church – St. Clement Site, 8075 Ritter Avenue, Center Line, Michigan 48015.Please share memories of Rosemary at her memory book above.