Rosemarie S. Phillips

Rosemarie Susanne Phillips, age 63, formerly of Mt. Carroll, Illinois, lost her battle with Breast Cancer on Monday, August 27, 2018 at FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport, Illinois. She was a ten-year Breast Cancer survivor. Cremation Rites have been accorded. A gathering will be held from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 5, 2018 at the First Lutheran Church in Mt. Carroll. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 7:00 p.m., immediately following the gathering at the church. Memorials may be given to St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Rosemarie’s memory.

Rosemarie was born on January 3, 1955, the daughter of William “Bill” and Nellie (Hansen) Waugh in Joliet, Illinois. She graduated from Thomson High School, graduating with the Class of 1973. Rosemarie married Bradley Phillips on October 20, 1974 in the Mt. Carroll United Methodist Church.

Rosemarie worked for the Caroline Mark Home in Mt. Carroll for thirty-four years, retiring in 2015. She was a member of the First Lutheran Church, Mt. Carroll. Rosemarie and her husband, Brad, traveled the United States in their Class C Motorhome. They especially looked forward to wintering together in Georgia and Texas. In her free time, Rosemarie enjoyed reading, writing in her journal, and rewriting and sharing her mother’s recipe cards. She also enjoyed knitting, adult coloring books, and watching competitive cooking TV shows. Rosemarie treasured her dog, Jasmine, and loved her family, especially her three grandchildren. Rosemarie’s favorite quote was “Dance before the music is over, Live before your life is over”.

Rosemarie will be dearly missed by her husband, Brad; one daughter, Laura Gifford of Camanche, Iowa; three grandchildren, Makenzie Ciner, Grant Gifford, and Adam Gifford; and one sister in-law, Dorothy “Dottie” Waugh of Lemont, Illinois. She was preceded in death by her parents; and one brother, William “Pudge” Waugh.