Rosalie Madonna Bellich

Rosalie Madonna (Hand) Bellich, age 91, passed away on April 16th, 2021 at Park Vista Assisted Living Complex in Camanche, IA. Rosalie was born January 18th, 1930 to Helen and Thomas Hand, of Thomson, IL. Rosalie was 100% Irish, and she acted 100% Irish. She attended Thomson High School, and after graduating attended Mt. Saint Clare College. As a mother, she stayed home with her four children until they graduated, then she became a teacher’s aide in the Thomson school system and later at the Fulton Junior High School.

Rosalie married Savanna native, Emil Bellich, a WWII veteran, on June 25th, 1949. Rosalie lived her whole life in Thomson, residing within a few blocks of her original childhood home. She loved Sunday dinners with the family and evening Manny’s pizza nights around the kitchen table. Two of her favorite activities were riding her bike and walking at Potter’s Marsh. Mrs. Bellich loved to travel with her husband until his passing in 2011. Their favorite travelling companions were their neighbors, Fay and Darlene Ashby. They were a fixture at their kids’ and grandkids’ sporting events and school programs. She was a member of Immaculate Conception Church in Fulton, and a member of the Immaculate Conception Church Alter and Rosary Society. Her love of family and deep faith were two constants that defined her rich life.

Rosalie will be dearly missed by her four children, Patrick (Janet) Bellich of Bloomington, IL, Joseph (Kelley) Bellich of Thomson, Louann (Tom) Hoch of Thomson, and Catherine (Randy) Temple of Fulton, IL; nine grandchildren, Mike Bellich of Morrison, IL, Karly (Nick) Bellich Ninedorf of St. Charles, IL, Jake (Shauna) Bellich of Thomson, Kate (Jared) Bellich Green of Marion, IA, Matt (Angie) Temple of Chicago, IL, Andy (Jill) Hill of Chicago, Hollie (Heath) Wilson of Villa Grove, IL, Abby Smith and fiancé Chris Mickelson of Thomson, and Jessie (Nate) Mason of Morrison; and 18 great-grandchildren.

Rosalie is preceded in death by her loving husband, Emil; her brother, Thomas Hand Jr; and her parents, Thomas Sr and Helen.

Funeral mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 20th, at Immaculate Conception Church in Fulton. A public visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, at the Law Jones Funeral Home in Thomson.