Rosemary Catherine Magee

Rosie Magee said attending the St. James Altar & Rosary Annual Card Party on May 9 would be her last hurrah.

And if you knew Rosie, you knew she meant what she said.

Six days later, on May 15, 2024, at the age of 87, she died peacefully in her Rockford, Illinois, home.

Born Rosemary Catherine on Aug. 24, 1936, in Rockford, to John and Barbara (Tarman) Altendorf, she quickly earned nicknames of Rosie and Tootie. She proudly told people she was “practically” a lifelong member of St. James Catholic Church, where she had attended Mass since she was 5 years old.

She grew up down the street, so she often walked to and from church with her younger brother, Dick. She also attended and graduated from St. James Catholic School. From there, she went to Muldoon Catholic High School for one year before transferring to and graduating from Rockford East High School in 1954.

Rosie married Ronald Magee on Sept. 9, 1978, in Rockford. They were married for nearly 39 years before his death on April 27, 2017.

In Ron’s obituary, Rosie wanted everyone to know this – Rosie was the love of Ron's life, and Ron was the love of Rosie's life. This truth bears repeating.

Rosie introduced Ron to the Catholic faith. He famously said, after attending Mass with her, that he wanted what she had. So, with Rosie’s support, he became a Catholic and, ultimately, a deacon. Together, they were beacons of the St. James community and led in many capacities. Rosie served as an extraordinary eucharistic minister, lector and commentator. She loved sending cards and calling the elderly. But her proudest role was as a deacon’s wife, supporting her husband’s ministry and helping him finetune many a homily.

She retired in 1998 from Rockford Products, where she worked for 28.5 years.

In her spare time, she played cards, so it was fitting that her last public outing at the St. James Card Party included a riveting round (or two) of Court Whist, one of her favorite games. She loved the food at Capri, a full glass of wine and anything chocolate. She enjoyed her volunteer work at Cornucopia Food Pantry and nursing homes.

She is survived by her stepchildren, Peggy Fuller, Laurie Hart, Mark (Wendy) Magee and Nancy (David) Little; 13 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; nephews Rick (Lesa) Altendorf and Jeff (Dorothy) Altendorf; niece Lori (Roger) Smith; cousin Craig (Lin) Anderson; in-laws Barb (Don) Sebby, Bill (Leslie) Magee and Dave (Lorri) Magee; and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents; brothers John (Edna), Clarence (Eve), Eddie (Mary) and Dick (Joyce); sister Margaret (Frank); stepdaughter Ronda Magee Shafer; step son-in-law Richard Fuller; in-laws Sharon and Fortunato Garcia, Judy and David Keiser, Delores "Bonnie" and David Blank; nieces Debbie (Weezy) Garcia and Angie Moore; and nephew Danny Lee.

Rosie loved her friends, especially Jo and Jerry Greenlee, Joanne Baylis, Lois and Dick Quinn, Marcia and Steve Chiodini, Bev (and the late John) Johnson, Bill Didier (and the late Ann Eversman), Jennifer Reddy and her family, and Anna Derocher and her family. And she loved her St. James community.

Rosie’s visitation starts at 9:30 a.m. Friday, May 24, 2024, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at the Beauvais Center behind St. James Church, 428 N. Second St., Rockford, with the Reverend Jhonatan Sarmiento and the Reverend David Beauvais concelebrating. There will be a private burial in Calvary Catholic Cemetery later. Instead of flowers, please contribute to the St. James Church Restoration Campaign because the church was Rosie’s favorite place. To donate, go to http://stjamesrockford.com/ and click on “Online Giving” or call the church office at 815.962.1214.