Rosemary C. Walker

Rosemary Catherine Walker, age 93, of Streator passed away peacefully on August 28, 2021 at Heritage Health Therapy and Senior Care Center. A requiem Mass will be held at St. Michael the Archangel Church at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, August 31st with burial immediately following in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Streator. Out of respect for the family, we ask that masks be worn in the church. Pallbearers will be Rosemary’s grandchildren Anne Terrien, Lindsay Driemeyer, Molly Derby, Eileen Chang, Evan Walker and Dylan Walker.

The Solon-Telford Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements, with visitation limited to immediate family.

Born May 12, 1928 in Streator, she was the daughter of Thaddeus M. and Kathleen (Tobin) Woodward. On June 30, 1951, at Immaculate Conception Church she married Ralph Walker, also of Streator. He preceded her in death on April 14, 1989.

She is survived by her children, Lawrence Walker of Madison, WI, Mary (Rick Terrien) Walker of Pittsburgh, PA, David (Janet) Walker of Streator, and Jeffrey (Kathy) Walker of Williamsburg, VA; seven grandchildren, Benjamin (Emily Hildebrand) Walker of Greenfield, MA, Anne Terrien of Superior, WI, Lindsay (Justin) Driemeyer of San Carlos, CA, Molly (Joseph) Derby, Normal, IL, Eileen (Warren) Chang of Pittsburgh, PA, Evan (Rebecca Fall) Walker of Chicago, IL, and Dylan Walker of Englewood, CO; and seven great-grandchildren, Vaida and Quinn Derby, Wesley and Aurelia Driemeyer, Viola and Ray Walker, and Liberty Chang.

She was also preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, Allen and William Woodward.

Born and raised in Streator, Rosemary attended St. Mary’s Grade School and graduated from Streator Township High School in the class of 1945.

Rosemary attended the College of Saint Teresa in Winona, MN, graduating with a BA in Sociology and Education in 1949. She taught grade school in Clifton, IL from 1949-1951.

She was a member of the former Immaculate Conception Parish and most currently belonged to St. Michael the Archangel Church.

Rosemary served as president of St. Mary’s Parents’ Club. With her husband, Ralph, she taught Pre-Cana classes in marriage preparation at Immaculate Conception Parish, where she also served on the Parish Council.

She was elected to the Streator High School Board and was a longtime substitute teacher at the school.

Rosemary was also elected to the Streator Elementary School Board and the Bruce Township Board of Supervisors.

She was a 25-year member of the Streator Planning Commission.

Rosemary served on numerous religious and nonprofit boards and councils including the College of Saint Teresa Alumni Board, the Diocese of Peoria Bishop’s Council, the Catholic Charities Board, Streator Food Pantry Board, Streator Child Development Center Board, and the Knights of Columbus Auxiliary Board.

Rosemary was a 25-year member of the St. Mary’s Hospital Ladies Auxiliary also serving part of the time as president. She particularly loved her work as a hospice volunteer at the hospital for many years.

She gave years of dedicated service in elected and volunteer positions, never wavering in devotion to her beloved hometown and its people. A faithful daughter of the Church, she was first and foremost a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She will be dearly missed by her family, friends, and community.

The family would like to thank the staff at Heritage Health and Lightways Hospice for their thoughtful, kind, and attentive care of Rosemary for the past two years.

In lieu of flowers please volunteer your time to the cause of your choice as Rosemary did for so many years.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.solontelford.com

To send flowers to the family in memory of Rosemary Walker, please visit our flower store.

Mass of Christian Burial

St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church

Tuesday August 31st, 2021

9:00am

801 Lundy St
Streator, IL 61364

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Rosemary C. Walker, please visit our floral store.