Obituary of Rosemary C. McLaughlin

Rosemary McLaughlin, 90, of Pennsville, New Jersey, widow of Donald J. McLaughlin, passed away peacefully on July 22, 2020. She is survived by her five children: Patricia Dalecki and husband Robert of Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ann Patterson and husband Tom of Waretown, New Jersey, Donna Simkins and husband Hiram of Toano, Virginia, Kathleen Allan and husband Edward of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Terrence McLaughlin of Pennsville, New Jersey. She was the loving, caring, and gregarious grandmother of eleven grandchildren: James (and Shelly) Dalecki, Stephen Dalecki, Rachael (and Anthony) Bilan, Sean Maher, Patrick Simkins, Gregory Simkins, Kelly Allan, Elizabeth (and Ryan Ogilvie) Allan, Katie (and Jeff) Steinberg, Edward (and Jennifer) Allan, Jr., and Robert (and Aria) Allan; and the delighted great grandmother to eight great grandchildren: Benjamin Dalecki, Lydia Bilan, Anna Ogilvie, Graham Ogilvie, Adelaide Steinberg, Amelia Steinberg, Lucas Allan, and Gavin Allan. Rosemary is also survived by her sister-in-law MaryJane Conway and numerous nieces and nephews. Born in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania on October 18, 1929 to parents Terrence F. Conway and Ann Lynch Conway, Rosemary grew up, with her brother James Conway, in Pennsgrove, New Jersey. She attended Saint James High School and graduated as her class valedictorian in 1947. She married her high school sweetheart, Donald McLaughlin at Saint James' Church in 1951 and moved to her forever home on Sparks Avenue in Pennsville. Rosemary was a devout Catholic, was active in her church, Queen of the Apostles, and, for years, was part of the Altar and Rosary Society. She and her husband, Donald, were especially involved with the Knights of Columbus and enjoyed many social events, including dances, shuffleboard, and costume parties with their friends at the K of C Hall in Salem. She was employed with New Jersey Bell Telephone in Salem and in Woodbury and retired as a Verizon employee in 1985. She was known to tell the most hilarious stories at the dinner table every night about her experiences as a service representative for Bell Tell. Rosemary loved to play cards and all types of games. She participated in several bridge clubs with her friends, enjoyed playing pinochle with her daughters, and could never pass up a game of Yahtzee or Uno with her grandchildren. Rosemary loved animals of all kinds – most especially her cat, Ralph. Despite her large family and hectic work schedule Rosemary devoted all her efforts toward making her family's lives special. She and Donald kept a happy home where her children thrived. Every family event, from the annual family trips to Ocean City, to Sunday morning breakfast after church, to the McLaughlin family reunions at Easter were special. During her retirement years, she loved to travel with children and grandchildren across the country and overseas. Rosemary was always there to help and care and to provide a warm, loving, wonderful family life for the McLaughlin clan. A Requiem Mass will be held at Saint Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church in Carneys Point on Monday, July 27th at 10:00 a.m. followed by interment at Saint Mary's Cemetery in Salem. Visitation is scheduled on Sunday, July 26th from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Laughrey Funeral Home in Pennsville. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions in her name to Catholic Charities, Salem County Humane Society, or the Humane Society of the United States. Face coverings and social distancing are required at the funeral services. www.laughreyfuneralhome.com