Rosemary June (Gibbon) Gallagher

Rosemary June Gallagher, 91, passed away peacefully on December 5, 2024, surrounded by her five children.

Born on June 18, 1933, in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England, Rosemary was the beloved daughter of Jack and Kathleen Gibbon. She grew up in Pinner, northwest of London. During World War II, at just seven years old, she and her twin sister, Anne, were among 100 children evacuated to Canada in 1940. The two girls were fortunate to find a loving home with W.R. Campbell, president of Ford Motor Company Canada, in Windsor. It was during her years in Canada that Rosemary discovered her passion for ice skating, a skill that would later shape her life.

After returning to England when the war ended, Rosemary graduated from high school and pursued a unique path, joining Holiday on Ice. As a professional skater, she toured Western Europe for over five years. During this time, she met and married an American GI, eventually moving to Napoleon, Ohio, where her four oldest children—David, Michael, Connie, and Richard—were born. The family later relocated to Auburn, Indiana, where her youngest son, Kenneth, was born.

Rosemary’s life took a challenging turn in 1968 when she divorced and became a single mother of five. With resilience and determination, she supported her family by working at Ball Brass Foundry, where she rose to the position of inspector over a 25-year career. To ensure her children’s well-being, she also worked multiple side jobs, embodying an unyielding spirit of selflessness and hard work.

Even in retirement, Rosemary remained active in her community. She volunteered for many years at the Curiosity Shoppe and DeKalb Memorial Hospital, was a dedicated member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, and played a leadership role in Parents Without Partners. She found joy in creative pursuits, such as watercolor painting, gardening, tai chi, and participating in the Nifty Knitters Club.

Rosemary will be remembered for her kindness, humility, and remarkable sense of humor. She enriched the lives of everyone she met, always putting others before herself and inspiring those around her with her quiet strength and grace.

She is survived by her siblings Anne McAlinden and Sue Lilly; her five children: David (Las Vegas, NV), Michael (Carmel, IN), Connie (Douglas, MI), Richard (Charlotte, NC), and Kenneth (Tampa, FL); 13 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren, with another great-granddaughter due in February. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Anthony Gibbon.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, December 14, starting at 11:00 a.m. at Feller and Clark Funeral Home, 1860 South Center Street in Auburn, Indiana, followed by a memorial service at 1:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Eckhart Public Library in care of Eckhart Public Foundation, P.O. Box 928, Auburn, IN 46706 (Click here to donate) or St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, both in Auburn, Indiana.

Rosemary’s legacy of love, resilience, and generosity lives on through her family and all who were fortunate to know her.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.fellerandclark.com and on our Facebook page at Feller and Clark Funeral Home.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Feller and Clark Funeral Home in Auburn.

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