Obituary for Rose Marie Sally Tingley
Rose Marie Sally Tingley, whose captivating smile and lovely Irish brogue lit up any room she entered, passed from this world on Thursday, Sept. 26 buoyed by the love and prayers of her family from around the world. She was 85.
Rose Marie was born on July 1, 1928 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. She was one of six children born to John and Esther Sally of Saint James Place, just off the Falls Road. Her older brother Hugh, older sister Jean and younger sisters Esther and Eileen have all passed away. Her younger brother John, her favorite, survives in La Faute Sur Mer, France.
Rose Marie attended schools in Belfast and spent time after the war working with her sister Jean in London. She seemed destined to a life in the British Isles, until she went on a blind date with a young American sailor off the aircraft carrier Corregidor.
A whirlwind romance followed. One night several sailors showed up on the stoop at Saint James Place and began singing "My Wild Irish Rose." Rose Marie''''s mother demanded they come in immediately, despite the hour, because she was afraid what the neighbors would think. Soon after, Rose Marie became engaged to Edward Arthur Tingley and her passage to America was booked aboard the Queen Elizabeth. They married on June 30, 1956 in Mobile, Ala. just as Edward was being discharged from the U.S. Navy.
They raised their two sons - Kenneth of Queensbury, NY and David of Seymour, Conn. in their dream home in Seymour where the Tingley Fourth of July picnics and annual Wiffle Ball games became family legends. The family apologizes to neighbors and law enforcement officials alike for any accidental discharge of fireworks.
Edward and Rose Marie enjoyed 45 years of marriage before he passed away in 2001. She always said "Her Eddie was the very best." After that, no one could beat her two boys - "Kenny and David." They were the center of her universe and are the better for it.
She is also survived by her daughter-in-law Gillian of Queensbury, NY, who went above and beyond in her loving care over the past year and her one and only grandson, Joseph Robert Edward Tingley of Queensbury, NY. Joseph occupied a special place in her heart and she spent much of the past year attending his orchestra concerts, swim meets, the school musical and the prom parades and telling anyone who would listen all about them.
She is also survived by many nieces and nephews from around the world, including San Diego, Calif., Connecticut, Cape Cod, Canada, Northern Ireland, England, France and Australia. She was especially close to her niece Christine Mohyde and her daughter Molly. Their day-long shopping sprees were legendary and always special for her.
This past year was especially difficult for Rose Marie because of health issues. But even then she persevered. She moved to Queensbury, NY and lived at The Stanton where she made many special friends. To the very end, Rose Marie celebrated her Irish heritage. St. Patrick''''s Day was a national holiday in her house and so many took so much pleasure in just listening to the Irish brogue.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held (DIRECTLY) on Tuesday, October 1 at 10:00 a.m. at The Church of the Good Shepherd, 135 Mountain Rd., Seymour, CT. Burial will follow at Pine Grove Cemetery, Ansonia, CT.
Friends may call on Monday from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at The Jenkins-King & Malerba Funeral Home, 12 Franklin St., Ansonia CT. (jenkinskingfh.com) In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to John H. Collins American Legion Post No. 24 in Derby to support their Boys State program. Rose Marie was a proud member of the women''''s auxiliary there.
The family would especially like to thank the many kind and dedicated health care professionals at The Stanton, who became like a second family to Rose Marie in the past year. You enhanced the final year of her life and that will never be forgotten.
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