Submitted by: Dan Rich
Rosaleen G. Crowley
South Bend Tribune 8/30/2008
SOUTH BEND - Rosaleen G. "Puddy" Crowley, 93,
died August 28, 2008, in South Bend. Rosaleen Adare Giblin
was born in Pelham, NY, on September 26, 1914, to William and
Kathleen Giblin. She embraced her education at home, at the
Sacred Heart Academy ("Maplehurst," NYC), and at
Trinity College, Washington, D.C. (B.A. in French, 1936). On
November 4, 1938, she married Jerome J. Crowley of South Bend,
IN. Together they had eleven children and nurtured each other,
the children, and the extended family in constant love and
Christian faith. She related graciously to family, friends, and
associates. Her children remember, in the words of one, "Her
truly unconditional love, support and example for us. Her
ever-present calm. Her acceptance of everyone. Her ability to see
and point out the positive in people." She was one of the
founding members of the South Bend chapter of the Christ Child
Society, which serves the clothing needs of children (now 4000
children annually), and was its first President from 1947 to
1951. She enjoyed literature and travel. Her last twelve,
homebound years showed patience, grace, and dignity. She was
preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, Jerome Crowley, an
infant son, William G. Crowley, and her older sisters, Kathleen Balet
and Eileen Hoffman. She is survived by five daughters:
Maureen (Tom) Cahir, Alice Crowley, Sheila (Dan) Sullivan,
Barbara (Donn) Crowley-Alexander, and Anne (Richard) Fortmann;
five sons: Jerome (Carol), Joseph (Tricia), Thomas, Paul (Patti),
and John (Jane); 25 grandchildren and seventeen
great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers or other memorial, the
family suggests a donation to the Christ Child Society, P.O. Box
1286, South Bend, IN 46624. Mass of Christian Burial will be held
at 9:30 am Tuesday September 2 in the Basilica of the Sacred
Heart on the Notre Dame Campus. Private Interment will follow
Friends may call from 2 to 5 p.m. Monday September 1 in the
HICKEY Funeral Homes 17131 Cleveland Road, South Bend, IN 46635,
with a rosary at 4 p.m.