Obituary of Rosemary Lillian Prewett

Obituary Written By Rosemary Prewett Well! Thanks to an act of God, I am finally being published! Not the kind of party I’d planned; but then, death, like life, is something that happens while you are busy making plans. Am I’m certainly a most unwilling guest of honor. Whatever caused my demise, I am sure I fought tooth and nail NOT to attend this particular party! I’ve loved life on this planet. If I’d had my “druthers,” my eternity would be spent right here. I’ve always said that I’d die dumb….there’s just so much to learn; even an eternity to do so would not be long enough. One more book to read; one more adventure to have; one more sunset to marvel at; one more stranger to befriend…always one more of everything. Hopefully my Heaven will be an exact duplicate of Earth! Writing ones’ own obituary is an arduous task. I found that, when thinking of leaving one’s last words for posterity, the tendency is to jot down EVERYTHING, from the feelings while in the womb to the last dying breath. An obituary is an account of the life of a deceased person….the way you’d like to be remembered. With that in mind……… With the exception that there is an iota of specialness about each individual, this obituary is about the most ordinary person who happened to live during some very extraordinary times. With history book in hand, mark this date; February 6th, 1927. Rosemary Cheek, born on that date, produced by Claire Keyhill and Tom Cheek, in Joplin, Missouri. Deemed “special” by dint of being the youngest, and only female of three children. Open your history books and read, starting with that year; continue through today’s date, and you will know the world in which I grew up, lived, and died. When I even think of all the events that have transpired during my lifetime, let alone read about them, I am completely overwhelmed! There is just too much for one human being to take in, to fathom, to understand. Each generation probably feels the same way, because each generation progresses in its own way. It will always be so, as the feats of the human brain are limitless! My single life was spent as “Rosey Cheek”….what else? I was a “child of the Depression.” I don’t remember ever going hungry, though my father said we ate an enormous amount of potato soup. Growing up in hand-me-down clothes was the norm, living with grandparents wasn’t unusual, and sharing food with whoever knocked on the door was taken for granted. Sometimes I think we all would have been better off if we’d clung to those “old-fashioned” customs. But you can’t stop progress! Most of my memories are rainbow hued. There were some black times of course; but I believe you can choose to keep the positive and stick the negative in a deep hole in your brain. You don’t have to be a complete Pollyanna to be happy, but don’t you agree that it takes less energy to think “happy” than it does to dwell on “gloom and doom?” So, please indulge me as I chirp about the greatness of growing up in a small community! Of course I remember World War II….there was a radio on the stage and we listened to President Roosevelt tell us we were at war. And yes, there was a Holocaust. And I remember Korea, Vietnam, and all of the ones since then. And the boys who left and never came back. I also remember the glory of school, all of the books to read, homes with unlocked doors, not being afraid to go outside at night and the street games with the kids in the neighborhood…ah…the innocent fun of it all. Along came marriage, in 1947, to Melvin, my high school sweetheart. We were together almost 51 years. In June of 1998, Melvin, my husband and good friend, went to bed and never woke up. During our marriage, we co-produced what I consider the most remarkable miracles on earth….they are Chris (Amy); Pat; Beth (Jenny); Phil; Jim (deceased), and Rich (Ami). In turn, they presented us with grandchildren Shannon; Jessie; Makeda; Clayton; Harrison; Grace; and one great grandson, Jason. There were loaned to us for a while…now they belong to the world. Individually or banded together, they are a force to be reckoned with. They turned out to be very good people, “in spite of us.” (We parents do some pretty bone-headed things to our children, all in the name of love!) And that is about it. It’s been a darned good run, even with all the bumps along life’s way. As I said, I wish I could have stayed for an eternity but that’s evidently not the way the Lord planned it. So, I’m on my merry way. Now you remember to keep breathin’ and to have at least one good adventure every day. I love you all. Come to think of it, do you feel like an adventure now? If you do, then go to whatever service the “kids” have planned to celebrate my life! You’ll get to meet my awesome children as well as my amazing friends, meet some new people, perhaps an old friend, and I am sure enjoy some light refreshments. Our home has always been open to everyone. So you’re coming to help me exit would be fitting. Besides, you will hear some great music!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have asked that people attend a mass at St. Peter’s Catholic Church the day after my service (66th and Nicollet, Richfield, MN) and pray with each other that my soul went in the right direction. Thank you. Mom / Rosey A Celebration of Life Service will be held on November 1st, 2014 at the Cremation Society of MN, 7110 France Ave South, Edina MN 55435 from 5-8pm. Sharing of memories begins at 6pm. In Lieu of Flowers, Memorials to the International Bear Center in Ely, your local food shelf, or a charity of your choosing is preferred. For original obituary and condolences please go to the following web address: http://obituaries.expressionstributes.com/