February 11, 1940 to February 11, 2015
Rosemary Connor Ferguson, 75, of Scranton and Clarks Summit, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Sunday in Commonwealth Hospice at Regional Hospital of Scranton, where she was a patient for a week. She was the widow of Joseph Ferguson, who died in 1975. Born in Scranton on December 11, 1939, daughter of the late Anthony and Rose Gavin Connor, she was a member of St. Joseph’s Church at Divine Mercy Parish and educated in St. Ann’s Monastery School. Being the oldest of nine children, she worked at Bell Telephone after high school, where her co-workers introduced her to their brother and her life love, Joseph Ferguson. Ironically, Joseph was the youngest of nine children, so she always maintained they saw “eye to eye on nothing.” They married in 1966 and had five children. In 1975, she lost Joseph to pneumonia. With the support of her family, she raised and educated her children alone, always with energy and a positive attitude, whether it was being a lunch mother at Nativity or going to games. One of her proudest accomplishments was remaining in the home she and Joseph built. When all of the children were school-aged, she went back into the workforce, beginning at Fashion Bug and then as a clerk at William Prescott Elementary School. This time in her life was when she met some very dear friends. She retired in 2001 after the death of her mother and her own declining health. When in good health, she could do it all. She was an immaculate housekeeper and enjoyed cooking Sunday dinners for her family. She loved to shop, hang curtains and redecorate rooms. Rosemary could also be found cutting grass, trimming shrubs, swimming with family, painting windows on a ladder, or shoveling snow. She was proud of her large Irish family. In addition to being the oldest of nine children, she was also the oldest of forty seven Gavin children and numerous Connor cousins. She enjoyed visiting with family and visited her husband’s family after Church on Sundays and always kept their father’s memory alive in her children. Her life was her family. She loved her brothers, sisters, their spouses and children dearly. Her sisters Jane, Margie, Kathy, Carol, Barbara and Tootsie are all alike and she would like to call them every day when able. When call waiting first began, she was dangerous and would click off a conversation and begin another without missing a beat. Her brothers Tony and Father Jack Connor have been her greatest supporters. One of her proudest days was the Ordination of her brother, Fr. Jack Connor, C.P. into the priesthood. Fr. Jack has been there with spiritual help and comic relief for her entire life.Rosemary’s grandchildren were her joy and she loved watching them grow into the special people they are. She enjoyed hearing of Emily’s basketball games, Victoria’s new pets, Jenna’s Irish Step dancing, Rose’s jokes and home performances, and Kate was her little helper who always made sure she could reach her drinks and phone. Gavin was her best friend and she enjoyed debating with him on the pronunciation of words and watching Paw Patrol. Grandma Jeez, Grandmother, MomMom, Grandma we love you! A close second to the joy her grandchildren brought her was that of CNN, Newswatch 16 and Scranton City Council, and she was always up to date on current events.The family would like to offer a special thank you to Theresa Hartman, her sister-in-law and dear friend, for the support and wonderful days spent together. A special thanks to her niece, Mary Beth Dean for always opening the door after school with a smile during those working years, and to her brother, Fr. Jack, for the past six months and especially his tireless support the past week. To her brother, Tony and his wife, Alma, a special thank you for a lifetime of support, advice and wonderful memories. The family would also like to extend gratitude to Dr. Anthony Perry and his nurse Mary, whom she considered friends, for going above and beyond excellent care during years of illnesses and hospitalizations, and Dr. Glen Digwood for his exceptional care and compassion for years, and this week for his ability to make everyone in a large family feel as if they were the only one he was speaking with. The entire staff of the Commonwealth Hospice Unit for their compassion and care, and the entire staff at Traditional Home Health and Hospice, especially Sandy, Laura, Kelly, Meagan, Brandi, Barbara and Noreen. Also, a very special thank you to her devoted son-in-law, Dr. Christopher Peters for sharing his life, home and television with her, and his untiring support of Jennifer and her siblings as they cared for their mom at home. She was looking forward to moving into a new home with Christopher, Jennifer and their children this month, where she had a special suite designed for her.Surviving are four children, Joseph, Scranton; Rosemary Robertson and husband, Jeffrey, Scranton; Timothy and wife, Julie, Scranton; Jennifer Peters and husband, Dr. Christopher Peters, with whom she resided in Clarks Summit; six grandchildren, whom she adored and enjoyed dearly, Emily Jane Ferguson, Victoria Daily Ferguson, Jenna Anne Robertson, and Rose Catherine, Kate Ann and Gavin Christopher Peters; two brothers, Anthony Connor and wife, Alma, the Villages, Fla.; and Fr. Jack Connor, C.P., St. Ann’s Basilica; six sisters, Jane Siebecker, Scranton; Margaret Prisco, the Villages, Fla.; Kathy Connor, St. Mary’s Villa, Elmhurst; Carol Lewis and husband, Ralph, Trumbull, Conn.; Barbara Knight and husband, Robert, Scranton; and Mary Francis “Tootsie” Bernardini and husband, D.J., Scranton; three sisters-in-law, Theresa Hartman, Scranton; Joan Golden, Conyers, Ga.; and Marie Gallagher, Alexandria, Va.; three aunts, Lois McGowan, Clarks Summit; Carmel Gavin, Scranton; and Berenice Gavin, Scranton; forty-two nieces and nephews, and seventy-nine great-nieces and nephews.She was preceded in death by an infant son, Daniel; three sisters-in-law, Ann Dean, Bridget Ferguson and Peggy Donahue; seven brothers-in-law, James Ferguson, John Dean, Robert Ferguson, Hugh Gallagher, Dick Golden, Bob Donahue and James Hartman; two nephews, Daniel Gallagher and Jack Dean; and a niece, Maureen Squire.The funeral will be Saturday at 10:30 a.m. from the Thomas J. Hughes Funeral Home Inc., 1240 St. Ann’s St., Scranton, PA 18504, with Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. in St. Ann’s Basilica, to be celebrated by Fr. Jack Connor, C.P. Interment, Cathedral Cemetery.Friends may call Friday, 4-8 p.m.
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