Rosemary Herrmann

Rosemary Herrmann was a vivacious woman with a genuine servant’s heart who touched the lives of over a thousand students, affecting the generations to come in a profound way. She lived each day to its fullest, treasuring each day as a precious gem and like a ray of sunshine, she brightened even the darkest of days. “Rosie,” as she was known to some of her extended family, cherished the loved ones placed in her life and found true happiness and contentment when she was in their warm company.

The 1920’s were a time of great change within the culture of our nation as Art Deco became a popular art form and the world was introduced to the literary works of Ernest Hemingway and Scott Fitzgerald. John and Anna Herrmann, of Grand Rapids, Michigan were looking forward to their own time of change as well; as Anna was due to give birth to their fourth baby at any time. They were indeed blessed on February 6, 1924 with the birth of their daughter, Rosemary. As one of six children in her family, Rosemary knew from a young age that it was her life’s ambition to be a teacher and this goal shaped the path that her life would take, even as a young girl. She nearly died twice from meningitis and mastoiditis, an infection on the skull. As a student she enjoyed school and became a graduate of Catholic Central High School.

After graduating from high school, she attended Western Michigan University College of Teaching where she earned a masters degree in elementary education. She was thrilled to find employment soon after she graduated from Western at Sibley School. This is when Rosemary truly started living as she was finally able to live out the life she felt so passionate about. Rosemary referred to the children she taught as “her kids” and her classroom was a constant reflection of the joy she found in teaching with brightly colored bulletin boards, many interesting projects, and even a gerbil or two. What made Rosemary such an outstanding teacher were the foundations of her teaching approach which were based on compassion, kindness, and gentleness. She believed in the importance of filling each of her students with pride by often allowing field trips to the students’ homes in order to introduce their parents to their fellow students and also to show their classmates where they lived.

Teaching was not the only arena in which Rosemary poured her heart and soul as her compassion extended to everyone she met. She was a bit of her own “volunteer organization” during her retirement years as she made it a point to visit her friends and special cousin at their homes and care facilities on a weekly or sometimes even daily basis. Rosemary always said that she felt she could make more of a positive impact on the world acting on her own than she could if she were sitting on a board of directors.

Family was an important cornerstone in Rosemary’s life and she was a vital part in the lives of many of her family members. She always made it a priority to attend the various monumental events in the lives of her many nieces and nephews attending baptisms, confirmations, communions, birthday parties, graduations, weddings, and many fun-filled holiday gatherings. Rosemary never forgot to send a birthday card to her nieces and nephews, usually with a five dollar bill tucked inside when they were younger. Aunt Rosemary always made sure that this younger generation of family members always knew that they were loved and cherished.

When Rosemary had some leisure time she enjoyed a variety of activities, especially after she retired. She was passionate about the arts and was an avid supporter of the Civic Theater, the Frederik Meijer Gardens, the Gerald R. Ford Museum, and most notably the Ann Arbor Arts Festival. She found this festival so enjoyable that she attended annually until she was no longer able to walk the miles and miles of booths. Rosemary also delighted in collecting unusual art and jewelry pieces that were colorful and sparkled. Many of her nieces and nephews were the lucky recipients of her passion for shopping the art fairs and galleries. Rosemary enjoyed flowers of all varieties and classical music as well.

Retirement also provided Rosemary with opportunities to more regularly enjoy the company of the friends and family members she held so dear. She loved to gather a small group of her teaching buddies for “drinks and snacks” every Friday afternoon at her home where they would reminisce about their days teaching together as well as catch up on their current endeavors. Many summers you could find Aunt Rosemary loading up her car and driving to visit her younger brother Frank and his wife Suzanne in New Jersey. Together the two women would spend their time seeing the sites and window shopping on Fifth Avenue in New York City. She also spent her summers visiting her brother John and his special wife Anne in Cleveland, Ohio where she delighted in the company of her nephews there. Rosemary enjoyed cottage vacations spent with her sister Barbara and her family with many adventures throughout northern Michigan. The thing that Rosemary delighted in the most during her retirement years, however, was chewing gum, which was every teacher’s nemesis, and she also enjoying having fun adventures, much like her students were able to do every summer.

A true teacher at heart, Rosemary Herrmann touched the hearts and lives of many future doctors, judges, and teachers through the compassionate education she imparted for over 40 years. Once named teacher of the year, Rosemary treasured her family and brightened the lives of every person she crossed paths with as well. She lived her life with tremendous vibrancy and zest and will be forever remembered through the significant impact she made on the world around her. Rosemary will be deeply missed.

Rosemary A. Herrmann of Grand Rapids died on Friday, March 6, 2009. Rosemary's family includes her brother Frank J. Herrmann (Suzanne) and sister, Barbara A. Weldon (William Peter). Also surviving Rosemary are her many nieces and nephews; great nieces and nephews; and a great, great niece and nephew, all of whom were joys in her life. Rosemary was preceded in death by her older brother John E. Herrmann and his wife Anne, her sister, Marian A. Thome, and her younger brother, Robert F. Herrmann. The family will greet relatives and friends at Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes – Alt & Shawmut – Grand Rapids, MI, 2120 Lake Michigan Drive, NW, Grand Rapids, MI on Sunday, March 8 from 2-5 p.m. including a rosary at 4:30 pm. Mass will be offered Monday, March 9 at 10:00 a.m/ at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with Rosemary's cousin, Monsignor Thomas McKinney officiating. Interment will be at Mount Calvary Cemetery following the service. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com, where you can leave a favorite memory or make a memorial contribution to St. Mary's Catholic Church, 423 First St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503; Spectrum Health Hospice, or the Grand Rapids Children's Museum.