Rosemary Elliott

Rosemary (Walsh) Elliott, 94, beloved wife of the late William E. Elliott, was reunited with her true love in Heaven on April 19, 2019.  She was born to John T. and Mary Catherine (Moore) Walsh on November 2, 1924 and grew up on Sackett Street in Westfield, MA.  Rosemary attended St. Mary’s School, graduating at age 16 in 1941.  She earned a degree in Food Technology from Massachusetts Agricultural College (now UMASS) in 1945.  She and Bill knew each other from early childhood, but it wasn’t until she returned home from her first date with him that she proclaimed, “He’s the one!”  When a chimney fire started in the house on Sackett Street, her mother commanded everyone to save what they could.  All that Rosemary could find worth saving was her future husband’s picture.  They became officially engaged after Bill returned from serving in the US Navy in China during WWII and were finally married on August 28, 1948 at St. Mary’s Church in Westfield.  They spent 60 wonderful years together raising four children, building friendships, laughing, reading mysteries, traveling, volunteering, exploring their family roots, and enjoying their six grandchildren. After college Rosemary was employed at Stanley Home Products in the chemical department, leaving after 6 years to devote herself to raising a family.  As her children grew older she worked at Steiger’s Department Store, as a real estate agent, and for ten years as a library assistant at the Westfield Athenaeum.  In retirement Rosemary and Bill were devoted and active volunteers, working for the Catholic Stewardship Appeal and Noble Hospital for many years.  Rosemary also volunteered for the St. Vincent DePaul Society.  She was a devout life-long parishioner of St. Mary’s Parish, attending Mass daily whenever possible to fulfill a promise made to Saint Theresa during a serious illness.  Her faith and love of God never wavered. Rosemary’s most enjoyed and fulfilling roles in life were those of wife and  mother.  She always said that she would have loved six children, but she was happy with four.  The family always expanded on holidays and special occasions when friends, schoolmates, and neighbors without close family were welcomed to become Elliotts for the day. Rosemary leaves two daughters and their spouses, Eileen and Robert Pearce of Windsor Locks, CT and Sheila Elliott and Marie LaMontagne of Northampton, and a daughter-in-law, Linda Elliott Malo of Pembroke, NH.  She leaves her six grandchildren and their spouses: William and Calley Elliott, Patrick and Jenny-Lyn Elliott, Alexander Pearce, Joshua and Danielle Elliott, Sarah and Matthew McDonald, and Emily and Kyle Love.  She also leaves two cherished great-grandchildren, Elliana McDonald and Henry Love, and she looked forward to the expected birth of her next great-grandson in May. Besides her husband, William and her parents, Rosemary was predeceased by her son, Steven Elliott (2008), her daughter, Patsy Elliott (February 6, 2019), and her brother, John P. Walsh. Visiting hours will be on Tuesday, April 23 from 11:30am to 12:30 pm at the Firtion-Adams Funeral Home, 76 Broad St., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 1 pm at St. Mary’s Church, 30 Bartlett St in Westfield. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Rosemary’s memory may be made to St. Mary’s Church, 30 Bartlett Street or to the Westfield Athenaeum, 6 Elm Street, Westfield, MA 01085. Eileen and Sheila would like express their gratitude to the staff of the Westfield Center for the kindness and loving care they provided for their mother over the past three months. Firtionadams.com

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