Rosemary L. Nicolosi

Rosemary Licari Nicolosi passed away peacefully on Dec 4th, 2022 at home surrounded by her loving family. She was born on September 3rd, 1930, to Frank and Frances G. Licari (nee Furino) in Rockford, Illinois.

She was educated at St. Anthony of Padua grade school, Bishop Muldoon H.S., and Rockford College. Rosemary had an enormous amount of energy and zest for life. Besides always being very physically active she was active in many organizations. When a picture of her appeared in the newspaper after being crowned as Queen of the United Catholic Sodalities it caught the eye of her future husband. She married Atty. Philip A. Nicolosi on September 10, 1949 and together they raised 5 sons. Education was a high priority and she regularly brought her sons to the library and cultivated their individual interests and talents. Her means of accomplishing this included both love and discipline. It was not unusual to find a wooden spoon located in her purse or the sun-visor of her car.

While raising her family she was also active in various organizations including St. Anthony Hospital Pink Ball as a publicity chairwoman, proudly belonging to the Italian Cavour Auxiliary, St. Peter's PTA board, parish representative at Boylan H.S. and tutoring at Eisenhower Middle School. One of her most pleasurable accomplishments was founding the "Show Me A Picture" program at St. Peter's School. Once a week she and four women introduced young students to classical paintings, bringing artwork to class for discussion. She was known as “The Picture Lady”. She was active in the Winn. Co. Bar Assoc. Law Wives’ Aux., and Rockford Woman's Club. She shared her husband’s commitment to the political process participating in local, state, and national campaigns and as an election judge and poll- watcher. She was also past V.P. of the Rockford Deanery of Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, as her Catholic faith was the cornerstone of her life, and she was steadfast in her implacable devotion to God. In 1985 she began working in her husband’s law firm, including working with two of their sons. When she was in her 60’s she became proficient in performing real estate closings and drove daily to the suburbs of Chicago to conduct closings for the firm and the affiliated Midwest Title Company.

The accomplishment she held most dear to her heart was of being a mother. Her love for her family and home was expressed through the endless celebrations of her beloved Italian heritage including her amazing cooking and baking and ALL had a seat at her table. She had an indominable spirit and was loved by everyone who met her. Ma’Mary’s moral compass was summed up by the plaque hanging in her kitchen: “What you are is God's gift to you, what you become is your gift to God.”

Those left to honor her memory are her sons, Dr. Angelo P. (Pam) Nicolosi, Dr. Frank J. (Ruth) Nicolosi, Judge Philip J. Nicolosi, Dr. Joseph (Wade Gease) Nicolosi, Attorney Paul S. (Deborah) Nicolosi; her grandchildren, Philip A. (Tricia) Nicolosi, Eli Nicolosi, Cara Rosemary (Toby) Lask, Rachel (Joel) Marik, Kimberly Nicolosi, Sophia Nicolosi and Alexandra Nicolosi; great-grandchildren, Angelo P. Nicolosi, Bianca, Luciana, Gianni and Francesca Nicolosi, Angelo Encinas, Addisyn Rosemary and Brayden Lask, and Dylan and Noah Marik; and great-great granddaughter, Amelia Encinas. Also survived by siblings, Carmella Zammuto and Therese Ingrassia; sisters-in-law, Rose Nicolosi and Joan Licari and numerous nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her husband, Philip A. Nicolosi; parents, Frank and Frances G. Licari; parents-in-law, Angelo and Grace Nicolosi; brother, Joseph W. Licari; brothers-in-law, Joe and John Nicolosi; sister-in-law, Lucille Nicolosi; brother-in-law Peter J. Zammuto; nephews, Angelo Joe Nicolosi and Frank Zammuto and nieces, Grace Hall and Mary Nicolosi.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Saturday, December 10, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church, 4401 Highcrest Road, Rockford, IL 61107, with Fr. David Beauvais officiating. A visitation will take place prior to Mass, starting at 9:00 a.m. Burial in Greenwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family for a memorial to be determined at a later date. Please share memories and condolences online at www.fitzgeraldfh.com