Rosemary Shea Brown

Rosemary Shea Brown
(December 9, 1921 to December 29, 2009)

Rosemary Shea Brown was reunited with her husband Bill in Heaven on December 29, 2009. Rosemary was born on December 9, 1921 in St. Paul, Minnesota and promptly made the trek out to California in 1922. Growing up in a vibrant Irish family, Rosemary quickly learned to be a calming and assertive influence within the Shea family. Rosemary graduated from Santa Monica High School and attended Santa Monica Junior College. When World War II commenced, she eagerly joined the ranks of women in the work force and became an executive secretary at Lockheed's Vega Aircraft Corporation where she met Bill in 1942. In 1948 Rosemary and Bill were married and embarked on a fantastic 60 year adventure, including raising three kids, building an extraordinary life together and travelling the world. Rosemary always generously donated her time and abundant skills to community institutions. Rosemary was a founding member and past-president of the Burbank Chapter of National Charity League and volunteered with the Burbank Dental Clinic, and was an active member of the women's service organization La Cadena. When Rosemary and Bill moved to Newport Beach, Rosemary continued her service to the community by joining the Newport Beach Chapter of Assistance League and working tirelessly at their thrift shop until her eighties. Rosemary, a devout Catholic was also active in the St. John Vianney's Ladies Guild and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre.

Throughout her life, Rosemary created a safe harbor for her husband, children and grandchildren, providing calm waters and strong breakers to enable her family to weather the storms while providing them the strength, the wisdom and guidance to make it possible for her family to venture into rough waters, live life and always return safely home. Rosemary's loving children, Jan Fleming (John), Scott Brown (Maggie), Nancy Bussard (Tom), grandchildren Jennifer Perdigao (Alan), Samantha Bussard, Molly, Christopher and Casey Brown and her sister-in-law, Dorothy Shea will continue to carry Rosemary's love and strength of character in their hearts to guide them through their lives.

Funeral services will be held on Monday January 4, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at St. John Vianney Chapel on Balboa Island. The Rosary will be held at Pacific View Mortuary on Sunday, January 3, 2010 at 6:00 p.m., following the viewing at 5:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Rosemary's memory to Loyola Marymount University, Attention Erin Hanson, In Memory of Rosemary Shea Brown, 1 LMU Drive, Suite 2800, Los Angeles, CA 90045.