Rosemary Jane (Healy) Adams

Rosemary Jane (Healy) Adams died on October 31. Her death will go unnoticed by most people living in the small town of Chester, MD, just 50 miles east of Washington, DC, but for those who loved her, she will sorely be missed. Rosemary was born on March 7, 1925, in Chicago, IL. After attending St. Ida and graduating from Senn High School, she worked in her father’s law firm. Some would say she lived a charmed life, but it was not without adversity. She met John “Tree” Adams, a Notre Dame football All American, while vacationing at their family’s cottage in Sister Lakes, MI. John was immediately smitten but it took Rosemary awhile to warm to his charms. They were married on December 28, 1946, in Chicago, IL. After a brief honeymoon, they settled in Washington, DC, where John played for the Washington Redskins and went on to become a builder/developer in Bethesda, MD. At the same time, Rosemary began her career of wife and mother to 10 children. Needless to say, her time was spread thin, between volunteering for the Church of the Little Flower Sodality, working in the mailroom of the White House, and ferrying kids to sports activities and other engagements, there was little down time. Tragedy struck the Adams family on August 20, 1969, when John “Tree” Adams died after a short illness. At 44 years old, Rosemary was left to raise the children alone. They ranged in age from 7 to 19 years old. Her strong faith in God, the encouragement of her sister Missy, and her determination saw her through. Rosemary could talk to anyone about anything. She was very proud of her Irish heritage, and she had the “gift of gab.” She never met a stranger. Most will fondly remember her contagious smile and sparkling blue eyes. She was preceded in death by John; her parents, Frances and Katherine Healy; her sister, Gwendolyn; her twin brother Frank; and her son, John Adams, Jr. She is survived by her sister Margaret Healy; her brothers, Patrick (Dell) and Dudley (Nancy) Healy; her children, Mary Katherine Adams Miller (Jerry); Agnes; Theresa Adams Plummer; Patricia Adams Sullivan(Terry); Rosemary; James; Margaret Adams Lewis (Robert); Joan Adams Marks (Scott) and Tom Adams. Rosemary was also blessed with 19 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 5, 2014, from 4-8pm with a Rosary ceremony starting at 7pm at Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home, P.A. in Chester, MD. Services will be held on Thursday, November 6, 2014, at 11 am, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Queenstown, MD. Interment will be in St. Peter’s Cemetery. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to Hospice of Queen Anne’s, 255 Comet Drive, Centreville, MD 21617.

Rosemary Jane (Healy) Adams

March 7, 1925 - October 31, 2014