Rosemary J. Bostwick

The Life Story of Rosemary Bostwick in her own words, from a speech given to her Red Hat club. I was born in Moorhead, Minnesota in 1929, and raised in Fargo, North Dakota, along the Red River Valley. My family consisted of two sisters and one brother. I was raised in a French Canadian community for the first five years before moving to the small town of West Fargo. We moved to the city of Fargo in 1940 while I was in the 5th grade. I attended St. Mary's Cathedral School. I'm proud to say our Bishop became Cardinal Munich in the forties. My love of painting began and was fostered by a well-qualified art teacher while I was attending Sacred Heart Academy High School. She had our art class join every contest around and we usually won. I met my husband, Richard Bostwick, after WWII, in 1948. He was raised in the same schools as I attended, only 6 years earlier. He was a well-known singer in our town. We married in 1950 at St. Mary's Cathedral in Fargo, ND. Richard's family had moved to Tacoma, Washing during WWII, working for the war effort. They invited us to move to Tacoma for better job opportunities in 1953. I was expecting my third child. Little did I know I would end up with seven boys and six girls! Archbishop Connelly baptized our 12th child. We lived in Puyallup for the first four years. The children attended Holy Rosary, then St. Anne's for elementary school. Bellermine Prep and St. Leo's for high school. One at Seattle University, one at Gonzaga, and one at Pacific Lutheran University. I belonged to the Visitation Women's Club and the YLI (Young Ladies Institute), for over 50 years. I was President of the YLI for four terms, traveling to cities within Washington, California and Hawaii. I was a member of the Red Hat Razzle Dazzle. I painted with an art group in Gig Harbor, and one at Clover Park Senior Center. I had an opportunity to participate in a painting trip to France with the Gig Harbor group. I also found time to swim with the Dollfins, a 10 member water ballet swim team. Rosemary was preceded in death by her husband, Richard, and three of her children, Steven, Joseph and Patrick. She is survived by 10 of her 13 children: Renee (Mike); Kathy (Nola); Tony (Debbie); Karen; Jeffrey (Angie); Julie (David); Mary Jane 1959; Robert (Rosalie); Louise (Jon); and Andy. 13 Grandchildren: Tyson; Haley; Raymond; Cheryl; Terra; Katie; Laura; Eileen; Angela; Robert; Jason; Nicholas; and Ethan. 12 Great Grandchildren: Kaylee; Payton; Jayden; Chance; Trey; Fiona; Cloe; Henry; June; Brooke; Harper; and Cash. Remembrances in Rosemary's name can be made to the Visitation Women's Club, 3314 South 58th St, Tacoma WA 98409.