Obituary of Rosemary Small

Sister Rosemary Small, O.S.F. Sister M. Robert Therese Sister Rosemary Small, OSF (1935 - 2013) died at Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home, Joliet, Illinois on February 22. She was born in Chicago, Illinois to the late Mary Agnes Mulligan and Michael Small. She was preceded in death by her parents and her twin brother, Robert. She is survived by her sister, Nancy (Joseph) Abelard, of Oak Forest, Illinois and numerous nieces and nephews. Sister Rosemary was a treasured member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate (Joliet) for 60 years. Sister Rosemary attended Sacred Heart Grade School, Englewood, Chicago and St. Francis Academy (now Joliet Catholic Academy) in Joliet, Illinois. She earned her Bachelor's Degree from the College of St. Francis (now University of St. Francis) in Joliet and a Master of Education from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana. Sister Rosemary's ministry consisted of a career in education and administration that spanned over 50 years. She served as a teacher in elementary schools in Illinois and Ohio from 1955 until 1970. In 1970 she became principal of St. Matthew School in Champaign, Illinois. She served on the Governing Board, the Administration of the Sisters of St. Francis, for 10 years and as Assistant to the Vice President of Academic Affairs at the University of St. Francis (USF) and Assistant Professor in the Education Department for 8 years. After serving as Assistant to the President for Mission and Ministry at USF for 7 years, she was named Vice-President for Mission Integration at USF in 2005, a position she held until her retirement in 2010. The wake for Sister Rosemary will be at Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home, 1201 Wyoming Avenue, Joliet, IL, (Wyoming and Rt. 30) on Wednesday, February 27, from 2:00 - 6:45 p.m., with a Prayer Service at 4:45 p.m. and Mass of Christian Burial at 7:00 p.m. The Funeral Procession will leave from Our Lady of Angels on Thursday, February 28, at 9:00 a.m. The Interment will take place at Resurrection Cemetery in Romeoville, Illinois. Memorials may be made to the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate, 1433 Essington Road, Joliet, IL 60435. For information 815-741-5500 or www.fredcdames.com