Rosemary Rengers passed away peacefully in her home in Naples, FL on Dec 17, 2020 due to pancreatic cancer at age 85. Rosemary was born to Peter and Mary Shalapin on May 16, 1935 in East St. Louis. She attended elementary school at St. Henry’s School in East St. Louis. She graduated high school early at age 16 from St Teresa’s Academy in East St. Louis. She went to the College of St. Francis in Joliet IL on a 2-year tuition scholarship. She met her husband Arthur Rengers at a “mixer” dance in 1953 at college. She married Art in May 1954 and went on to have 5 children. She later went back to school and earned a master’s degree in Pastoral Ministry.
Rosemary worked as a Director of Education as well as a Lay Pastoral Minister at her Catholic Church. She worked with local Senior Centers and worked to bring awareness of issues in nursing homes. She also created and presented many Pre-retirement Planning sessions to corporations for employees looking at considering that step. After she and Art retired, they started a successful Time Out for Crafts business including creating and selling many handmade painted wood and scarf items. She and Art were members of St. Peter Catholic Church choir in Naples. Rosemary and Art also spent many years doing volunteer work at several FL state parks. This included planning, organizing live entertainment and promoting the annual Blue Grass Festival fundraiser at Florida’s Collier-Seminole State Park. This was an event that promoted protection of endangered species and fund raising for enjoyment of Florida's nature preserves and natural habitat. They also spent time as volunteer naturalists living in the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge. She loved to cook for family and friends and gardening was also a passion. Rosemary made friends everywhere she went and enjoyed her life. She will be dearly missed and will forever be in our hearts.
Rosemary is survived by her husband of 66 years, Arthur; by her children Marietta (Mike) Schubert, Rose Brock, Steve (Terri) Rengers and Doug Rengers; son-in-law Gary Thomas; 3 sisters Sr Joan Shalapin ASC, Kathy Simons and Phyllis (Terry) Johns; 1 brother Peter Shalapin; grandchildren Jason Schubert, Jessica Schubert, Eliza Brock, Zachary Thomas, Jaclyn Thomas and Nicholas Rengers; plus 12 great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her daughter Marilyn Thomas and her stepsister Rose Hanley.
A memorial gathering will be held at a later time. As an expression of sympathy, the family asks that donations be made to the American Cancer Society.