Obituary: Rose Mary Osborn Peterson, 89, Loretto
Rose Mary Osborn Peterson, 89, of Loretto, died Monday, June 20, 2016. She was the daughter of Sara Florence Thompson Osborn and William Louis Osborn Sr.
ROSE MARY OSBORN PETERSON
She was a partner in the establishment of Peterson Farms and continued her keen interest in the evolution and growth of the farm operations until she died. She taught in the Marion County School System at St. Charles School in St. Mary, Raywick School, and the St. Catherine School in New Haven.
She attended Mount St. Joseph College. Even though she interrupted her education to raise her young children, her desire for higher education never ceased, and she returned to Campbellsville College (now Campbellsville University) where, in 1972, she received her Bachelor’s degree. She fostered her love of education in her children. Over the years, she and her husband invited more than a dozen international exchange students into their home for sometimes six-month stays or longer.
Her faith and family were at the center of her life. She hosted Mary Days for large groups at her home at the old Coon Hollow Farm, prayed the rosary daily, and made rosaries which she donated all over the world. She modeled her deep faith for her children. She was a member of the St. Vincent DePaul and St. Francis of Assisi churches.
She loved to entertain, whether it was throwing a big party on a Sunday afternoon with live music and everyone in the community invited, or making dinner for the workers on the farm. Her parties often attracted as many as a hundred people, and it was nothing to find a dozen people crowded around her mid-day table many times each week.
She and her husband enjoyed a long and loving relationship and were truly a team. They worked hard, they were frugal, they supported each other, and they laughed a lot. They raised eight devoted children, and delighted in their grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, William B. (Bill) Peterson; one son Paul Joseph; 10 siblings Joseph Anthony, Mary Irene, Naomi Celeste, Noel Benedict, Mary Cornelia, Sara Anna, William Louis Jr., Mary Ursula, Jim, and Joseph Dominic; and one grandson, John Daniel.
She is survived by eight children, Bill (Susan), Sara (Mark Meltzer), Michael (Kathleen), Alice (Paul Munk), David (Sandy), Mary Rose (Charles George), Dominic (Eileen), and Bernard (Annette); one sister, Frances Rebecca Mattingly of Cincinnati; three sisters-in-law, Catherine Rogers, Geraldine Peterson, and Mary Frances Peterson; four brothers-in-law the Rev. Gerald Peterson, the Rev. Harry Peterson, the Rev. George Peterson, and Robert H. Peterson; 22 grandchildren, Albert Peterson, Julia Hannan, Daniel Peterson, Sam Crews, Katey Crews, Meghan Steach, Adrian Peterson, Dan Roy, Zac Roy, David Munk, Henry Munk, Laurel Peterson, Madeline Peterson, Erik P. George, Michael George, Charles George, William George, Joseph George, Emily Blackburn, Molly Schottelkotte, Samantha P. Elmankabady, and Caroline Peterson; and 26 great-grandchildren.
The Mass of Christian Burial is 11 a.m. Saturday, June 25, 2016, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, in St. Francis. This would have been Rose Mary and Bill’s 70th wedding anniversary. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Visitation is 4-8 p.m. Thursday, June 23, 2016, and 4-8 p.m. Friday, June 24, 2016, at the Mattingly Funeral Home, 195 Holy Cross Road, Loretto.
Because she so frequently performed local acts of kindness for people in need, in lieu of donations, the family asks each person do a good deed for someone.
The Mattingly Funeral Home in Loretto is in charge of the arrangements.
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