ROSEMARY MARGARET CANTRELL

CANTRELL, ROSEMARY MARGARET, nee McCormick, 91 years old, of 4049 Amberjack Drive in Hernando Beach Florida, passed away on December 25, 2021. She died peacefully though unexpectedly while resting at home on Christmas day.

Rosemary was born on June 15, 1930 to Alexander and Johanna McCormick of Chicago, Illinois. After Rosemary graduated from high school in Chicago, she went on to study at Loyola University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree. She then began a career in community service.

In 1944, Rosemary met Jim Cantrell at Lake Michigan Beach, a longtime Summer home for both their families. They married in 1956 and went on to have four children; Elizabeth, John, Thomas, and Ellen. Rosemary and Jim were married for 65 years.

After their family moved to Coventry, Rhode Island in 1967, Rosemary began working for the Department of Health and Human Services as a Quality Control Auditor in which capacity she spent many years helping people in the community to obtain needed assistance in their lives. In work and in life, she was often found ready to help others by providing options and resources – and Rosemary made it a point to know what she was talking about!

In the early 1990s Rosemary retired and took time for gardening, family activities, and travel. She and Jim explored the world together – particularly people and places up and down the East coast of the United States. Rosemary was gifted with a sharp mind, an inquisitive spirit, and a thirst to go places, see people, and to acquire new knowledge. She was able to keep this gift active till the very end of her life.

Rosemary was predeceased by her son John M. Cantrell, her brother William McCormick, and her sister Margaret Carey. She is survived by her loving husband James Cantrell, son Thomas Cantrell, and daughter Elizabeth Cantrell; all of Coventry, RI, and a daughter Ellen Cantrell of Fort-Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida, and her cherished granddaughter Amanda Cantrell, (Chris), of Sommerville, MA. 

A Visiting hour will be on Saturday, January 15, 2022 from 8:30 am to 9:30 am in the Iannotti Funeral Home at MAPLE ROOT, 2000 Nooseneck Hill Rd., Coventry (Rte. 95, exit 6, Rte.3), with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 am in the Saints John & Paul Church Rectory Chapel. Interment at St. Joseph Cemetery in West Greenwich. Please wear a mask. iannottifh.com

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