Rosemary B. Reilly

Rosemary B. Reilly, 95, of Fort Lauderdale, passed away December 3, 2022. 

During World War II, Rosemary entered nursing school at the young age of 17, graduating as the youngest in her class.  Her career spanned for 70 years as a Registered Nurse. Rosemary helped open the first Coronary Care Unit in 1967 at Broward General Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, and spent many years teaching nurses in other hospitals around the county. 

Rosemary volunteered her time as the School Nurse for Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Catholic School, before retiring at the age of 88.

She married James F. Reilly in 1950, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Ashton, Rhode Island.  They relocated from Cumberland, Rhode Island, to Fort Lauderdale in June 1967.

Rosemary was an active member of Our Lady Queen of Martyr’s Catholic Church since 1967. Her love of sewing produced many handmade vestments for the Priests, and their tailored clothing. Rosemary made the costumes for school plays, drapes, clothing, wedding gowns. She also had a talent for knitting making many sweaters for her loved ones.

Traveling was another passion of Rosemary’s, and she was blessed to have visited many different places around the world. 

Rosemary is survived by her five children, Patricia L. Windisch, Michael F. Reilly (Sandra Patterson Reilly), Peter A. Reilly (Dorothy Nash Reilly), Andrew P. Reilly (Diann Hood Reilly), Maureen Tindell; her brother, William Tennyson (age 92); 13 grandchildren, and 16 great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 43 years, James F. Reilly, in 1993; son, Christopher Reilly, in 2016; brother, John Tennyson; sister, Dolores Hone, and parents, Bernard and Mildred Tennyson.

Visitation will be Thursday, 6:00pm-8:00pm, in T. M. Ralph Plantation Funeral Home.  Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, 1:00pm, at Our Lady Queen of Martyr’s Catholic Church, and interment immediately following in Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery.