Rose Marie Foley
January 17, 2018Share using:
Rose Marie Foley, 87, of Dubuque, Iowa passed away on Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at Stonehill Care Center.
Funeral mass will be at 11:30 a.m. Monday, January 22, 2018 at St. Columbkille Catholic Church with Rev. Gabriel Anderson officiating. Family and friends may gather after 9:00 a.m. Monday at the church until time of mass. Burial will be at a later date in Mount Olivet Cemetery. Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road is in charge of arrangements.
Rose was born on April 15, 1930 in Calmar, Iowa the daughter of Ernest and Frances (Schmitt) Hauber.
She married William P. Foley on July 8th, 1950. He preceded her in death on August 21, 1972. The passing of William left Rose with the task of raising seven children alone at the age of 42. She lovingly and successfully dedicated herself to that cause and watched each of her children complete college or a professional program after high school.
The two most important things in her life were her faith and her family. Both things gave her tremendous comfort during good days and bad days. Throughout her life Rose attended daily mass. At services across Dubuque, you could find Rose comfortably situated in the back of the church, often accompanied by her children. She taught them to treat everyone with kindness and love and modeled it faithfully. She was extremely proud of her family. And her family was extremely proud of her.
Rose enjoyed a good game of cards with family and friends and time spent at the local casino, where most of her efforts were philanthropic. She was known to tool around town in her Jeep to local garage sales and grocery stores in search of a bargain before hurrying home to spend time with her beloved cat Gracie. But if the winter weather was about to turn bad, Rosie would stay put. She was an avid Chicago Cubs and Green Bay Packers fan. She enjoyed a cold beer poured over a full glass of ice and a nice chat with her neighbors who she treasured dearly.
Rose was a loving mother and grandmother who enjoyed spending time with her family. She stayed in constant contact with her seven children, but her children knew not to call her between 6:30 and 7:00 while she was enjoying Wheel of Fortune.
She was the proud niece of local World War II hero Chaplain Aloysius Schmitt who saved many lives during the attack on Pearl Harbor. She proudly and honorably accepted his burial flag at his recently held military rites ceremony at Loras College.
She is survived by her seven children, Sue Makovec, of Dubuque, William (Shirley) Foley, of Dyersville, Michael (Marcia) Foley, of Katy, TX, Kathryn Foley-Hingtgen, of Fond du Lac, WI, Robert (Leslie) Foley, of Dubuque, John (Kristin) Foley, and Steven (Jaclyn) Foley, both of Bettendorf. Nineteen grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.
She was also preceded in death by her parents Ernest and Frances Hauber; her sister Juanita (Marc) Ryan; son-in-law Steve Makovec; and two grandchildren Michael James Foley and Jennifer Makovec.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Matthew Kirkendall and Dr. Allen Meurer and their staffs, along with the caring people at Stonehill Care Center and Hospice of Dubuque for all the wonderful care, kindness and compassion they showed Rose.
In lieu of flowers, a Rose Foley memorial fund will be established.
