Rosemary Ann Purdy

Rosemary Ann Purdy, age 96, passed away peacefully at home with her family at her side Tuesday, June 10, 2025. She was born in Racine, May 14, 1929, daughter of the late Frank and Frances (Nee: Hanacek) Tomasek.

Rosemary attended grade school at St. John Nepomuk Grade School and graduated from Wm Horlick High School “Class of 1947”. On July 23, 1949, she was united in marriage to Francis E. Purdy and they were blessed with 10 children. Rosemary was a longtime member and volunteer of St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church. Rose worked at Zahn’s Department Store where she met Frank Purdy. Rose also worked at Walker Mfg for 10 years.

Her passion was being a wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She will be remembered by her family as an excellent cook, baker, and gardener. Rose loved flowers. She enjoyed time with her monthly card club with lifelong friends and traveling with Frank, her brother Joe, and sister-in-law, Ruby to the Czech Republic to visit her mother’s village and meet distant relatives. She also enjoyed cruising “The Caribbean” and trips to Florida, Virginia, Colorado and Arizonia to visit family.

Rose was a devoted grandmother and delighted in taking care of them. Rose meant the world to her children and grandchildren. She will be dearly missed!

Surviving are her children Denise (Donald) Sokolowski, Marlene (Richard) Stindle, David Purdy, Robert Purdy, John Purdy, Patricia (James) Buchholz, Nancy (Jeff) Zanotti, Richard Purdy, Sandra (Marvin) Beier, Sharon (Matthew) Zagar; 24 grandchildren; 30 great grandchildren and one on the way; sister- in-law, Janice Tomasek; nieces, nephews, other relatives in the Czech Republic and friends. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Frank of 63 years; daughter-in-law, Sandy Purdy; siblings, Joe (Ruby) Tomasek, John (June) Tomasek, Edward (Lorraine) Tomasek, Jim (Jerry) Tomasek, Frank (Violet) Tomasek, Carl Tomasek; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Guy (Barb) Purdy, Dwight (Jo) Purdy; nephews, Jeff Purdy, Dan Tomasek, Greg Tomasek; and niece, Jeanne Tomasek.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, July 11, 2025, 11am at St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church, 1903 Green Street. Interment will follow at Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Dover. Relatives and friends may meet prior to the Mass 9 am until 10:45 am. Memorials to Hospice Alliance or St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church have been suggested.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Hospice Alliance, especially Cindy and Jackie for their excellent care also a big thank you to Deacon Ed of Sacred Heart for graciously giving Mom communion every Wednesday for the last several months.