Rosemary Walters Gerstner, 100, joined the legions of angels and saints on October 31, 2022. She was a devoted woman of faith as well as a sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother.
Rosemary was born in the unincorporated town of
Severin, Kansas, and grew up in Hays, Kansas, where she was raised with
her 10 sisters and 1 brother. At the age of 10, Rosemary lost her mother
and sister to ptomaine poisoning. Another sister succumbed to polio.
She worked as a retail clerk at Weisner's Department Store to help with
family finances and graduated from Girls Catholic High. She was married
almost 60 years to the love of her life, Ernest Gerstner, when he passed
in 2002. Together they raised four children, Miriam Wilson, Gregory,
Linda Manning (Michael), and Debra Jones (Robert).
Her
half-brother, Ronald Walters and half-sister, Janet Gerstner will carry
on the Walters family traditions. She also leaves eight grandchildren,
Melissa Sims (John), Wanda Walters (James), Aaron and Joey Gerstner,
Matthew (Chelsea) and Monica Manning, Rachel and John Jones; seven
great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren to carry on her
legacy of love and faith.
In addition to her husband,
Rosemary was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Monica Walters,
her step-mother, Rose Walters, all of her sisters, brother,
step-brother and step-sister.
Rosemary's faith was most
important to her. Rosemary attended St. Pius X Catholic Church in
Conyers, GA, volunteering in the St. Cecilia Parish Choir, The
Resurrection Choir (funeral choir), money counting, as well as aiding
whenever called for last minute needs of the parish.
Once her
children were in school, Rosemary worked for Internal Revenue Service
during the tax season, entering returns manually, until something better
came along: computers. She then trained on punch cards (remember
those?). She moved on to training new employees and writing a training
manual. After retirement, Rosemary became a hospital volunteer at St.
Joseph's Hospital in Atlanta, until she and Ernest moved to Conyers. She
continued her hospital volunteer work for Rockdale Medical Center (now
Piedmont Rockdale Hospital) for 19 years.
While Rosemary saw
and experienced a lot of changes over her 100 years, she left an
indelible mark on her family, friends, and church.
A Funeral
Mass will be held Saturday, November 5, 2022, at 10:30 am at St. Pius X
Catholic Church with Father Juan Areiza as Celebrant; interment will
follow at Peachtree Memorial Park in Norcross. Family will receive
friends Friday, November 4, 2022, from 6 until 8 p.m. at the funeral
home. To view service live, click on the following link: https://www.YouTube.com/SPXConyers
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Pius X Catholic Church or The Hospital Auxiliary at Piedmont Rockdale.
Condolences may be submitted online at www.scotward.com. Scot Ward Funeral Services, 699 American Legion Road, Conyers, GA 30012, 770-483-7216.