Obituary of Rosemarie Clarke

Rosemarie (Ro), Theresa Finn Clarke passed away in her home on February 21, 2011 in Glastonbury, CT., after a determined fight against lung cancer, with her family by her side. Rosemarie was born September 19, 1937 in Queens York, N.Y., daughter of the late Rose Kelly Finn and James A. Finn; and is predeceased by her brother James , and sister Elizabeth (Betty) Finn. Rosemarie is survived by her husband Charles J. Clarke, of fifty three years; and her daughters: Donna and her husband Chris Jepson, Nancy and her husband Stephan Braun, Sharon, and her husband Gregg Myles Levin and her sons: Kevin, John and his partner Santiago Baez, and Michael and his partner Sabrina Pfest:,. She leaves behind five wonderful grandchildren: Kyle, Aiden, Colin, Kaitlyn and Charlotte. She also leaves her brothers Jack, Robert, Donald and his wife Regina, and Gerald and his wife Joan and her many nieces and nephews. Rosemarie graduated from St. Barnabas, in the Bronx, N.Y. After Ro and Chuck married in 1958 they started their life together in the Bronx, moving to Pearl River, N.Y., Vernon, CT., and Glastonbury, CT. They shared many happy memories gathering their family at their summer home in R.I. She was a devoted wife, mother and friend. As a devout Catholic, she moved through life with strength in her faith, family, and friends. She taught us perseverance in facing life's adversities, including this last fight with cancer, with good spirits, humor, and admirable perspective. Ro was active for many years in the Glastonbury Thrift Shop for Child and Family Services, and many other charities as well as spending her time painting folk art. In lieu of flowers, she would have liked donations to be made to the Mitochondrial Disease Foundation, 81 Wood Pond Road, Cheshire, CT 06410. Family and friends are invited to call at the Mulryan Funeral Home, 725 Hebron Avenue, Glastonbury, CT on Thursday Feb. 24th from 5-8 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday February 25th at 10am in St. Patrick -St. Anthony Parish, 285 Church Street, Hartford, CT (everyone please meet at church). The burial at Green Cemetery, Hubbard Street, Glastonbury, CT, will be followed by a reception at their home. For online tributes please visit www.mulryanfh.com.