Rosemarie Hartnett died on December 19, 2008. She was 69 years old. She was the 12th born of the 14th children of James and Virginia (Lagamasino) Delaney of East Boston, Massachusetts. She was educated in the Catholic School System and graduated from Mt. St. Joseph Academy in Brighton, MA in 1957. Rosemarie was “the bride” of her husband, James Hartnett, for 49 years.
Rosemarie was proud to be an American. She moved from East Boston to Salem, NH in 1971. She was a library aide and secretary of PTA at the Haigh School. She taught CCD in her home and attended St. Joseph Church. Ro worked for the Town of Salem from December 1975 to July 2001 and enjoyed working with, and helping, the people of Salem. She worked in the Building, Planning and Community Development Departments and served as resource person for the Board of Adjustment for many years. Coming from a large family, she was especially proud to serve on the Board of Directors of the Greater Salem Boys & Girls Club for over 13 years and served on the Annual Auction Committee of the Club. She chaired the Colonial Ball in May of 2000 in celebration of Salem’s 250th anniversary celebration. Ro was elected Library Trustee of the Kelley Library and enthusiastically served in that capacity since 1994. She briefly served as a regular member of the Planning Board for the Town of Salem.
Rosemarie loved her family and friends dearly. She loved being Grammy Roro. People often said to her “you have lots of company” and her reply would be, “they are not company they are my family.” She loved flowers. She and her husband had a lovely well cared for yard: the perennials were her choice and the annuals his. She enjoyed birds and her favorite was the hummingbird followed closely by the Cardinal. She loved to walk with her friends and enjoyed reading and playing scrabble with her sister Chickie. She had a great sense of humor, enjoyed music, children and friends and loved to dance, especially ball room dancing with Jimmy.
Rosemarie is survived by her much loved husband, James M. (Jimmy) Hartnett; her “favorite” son, James M. and his wife, Ginny of Exeter, NH; her “favorite” daughter, Lisa, and her husband, Mark, of San Jose, CA. She had four grandchildren: Delaney Morse, Alicia Hartnett, Cole Hartnett and Julia Morse. She is survived by her sisters: Virginia Delaney, Arlene Mitchell (SS), Ellen Irr all of East Boston, Victoria Lyons, Jeannette Boss of Salem, Carol Fendone of Londonderry and Jackie Noble of Palm Beach Gardens, FL and her brothers-in-laws Anthony Irr, Louis Fendone and Gale Noble and sisters-in-law, Joan Delaney of Lynn, MA and Nora Delaney of Revere, MA. She is pre-deceased by her brothers: Andrew, Robert, James, Donald and Andrew J. and her sister Claire Necco.
She is also survived by her “nearly-sister” Brenda Leary of Salem, NH and East Boston, MA and life-long friend, Lois Solari of Dallas Texas. Rosemarie had 31 nieces and nephews. She was especially close to Beth Mitchell of East Boston and considered Sandie Hayes of Austin, Texas, as her “daughter” and considered herself Kerry Pixos of Manchester, NH, second mother. Rosemarie had numerous great nieces and nephews, and many great grand nieces and nephews. She especially liked to introduce Ryan Shaw as her great, grand nephew.
Rosemarie had numerous friends and wanted to especially thank Cheryl Bolouk, Barbara Foglia, Brenda Leary, Ross Moldoff , Judi Kean, Michael Smith, Eleanor Strang, the Selfridge Family and Jim Troisi among many others for their prayers and kindnesses to her during what she called “a difficult time”.
Rosemarie had a strong devotion to the Blessed Mother and said the rosary daily for those in need. She loved her husband, her children, her grandchildren, sisters, relatives, friends, America and her community. She considered Main Street and Geremonty Drive her corner of the Town of Salem. She enjoyed spending time with James and Ginny and the children and visiting with Lisa and Mark and the children in California or on their visits to New Hampshire. Family was her greatest joy and pride. Friends were her treasures. Jimmy was “her darling” and faithful partner in life. She lived to share life with others in the best possible way and had many friends because she was a friend to many.
She gives thanks to Dr. Jeffrey A. Morgan and Amy Potter of Dana Farber and Dr. Karen Marcus and Kathy Lew of Brigham & Womens Hospitals in Boston, MA.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday, Dec. 27 at 10 AM at St. Joseph Church, Salem, NH. Burial will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery, Salem.
Calling hours will be held Friday, Dec. 26 from 4-7 PM at the Douglas & Johnson Funeral Home, 214 Main St, Salem, NH.
Ro has requested donations in her memory be sent to the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem, NH, In a care of Cheryl Bolouk and Dana Farber Hospital c/o Dr. Morgan, 7 Binney Street, Boston, MA.