Rosemary Hungerman, age 90, died on July 8, 2022 from natural causes, surrounded by her loving family.
As a military spouse and the mother of six children, she skillfully piloted a large Air Force family as they traveled to assignments across the U.S. and abroad. She also took compassionate care of her mother who had a serious mental health diagnosis. Rosemary was a smart, capable woman who challenged her children to excel in education. She loved reading, completing the daily crossword puzzle, and playing expert-level Bridge. She also enjoyed creating lovely quilts for family and friends.
Rosemary was born to Howard “Nick” Dove and Marguerite (Johnson). When Marguerite died soon after her birth, Rosemary was adopted by her paternal aunt, Bertha Detwiler, and husband, Earl. She grew up in Chicago and spent summers with her two sisters, Dorothy and Barbara, and other relatives in Ludington, MI. Her family moved to Wood-Ridge, NJ during her early high school years and then to Detroit where she graduated from St. Agnes H.S. in 1949, and where she met her future husband, Paul Hungerman. She graduated from Marygrove College in Detroit with a BS in Dietetics in 1953 and later completed a Masters in Hospital Administration from Central Michigan University.
During Paul’s Air Force career, Paul and Rosemary were stationed at Colorado Springs, CO, San Antonio, TX, Lakenheath AFB, England, O’Fallon, IL, Montgomery, AL, Ramstein AFB, Germany. During summers in England, their family adventures in the family’s 1965 “Victoria” VW camper were worthy of their own “European Vacation” movie script. Rosemary and Paul retired to Presque Isle, MI on Grand Lake where they delighted in sailing in her namesake “Li'l RoRo,” making friends and visiting their children and grandchildren. The lake house was Rosemary’s favorite home where she ended most days laughing on the deck, watching the sunset, and sipping a Manhattan.
Rosemary was predeceased in 2006 by Paul J. Hungerman, father of her children and husband of many years. She is survived by her children, Marian Bauman (Timothy), Constance Hansen (Peter), Paula Tsufis (Marc), Gretchen Devins (Randall), Mark Hungerman, and Marguerite Bertelsen (Erik); 15 grandchildren, and 25 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the Chelsea Retirement Community and especially the staff at Dancey House, Glazier Commons, and Kresge for their kind and considerate care of our mother.
A Memorial Service will be held on Monday July 11, 2022, 11:00 a.m., at the Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, 901 N. Main St, Chelsea, where the family will receive friends from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
A funeral lunch will follow at the Knights of Columbus Hall and Banquet Center in nearby Dexter, 8265 Dexter-Chelsea Rd, Dexter, MI 48130.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to the UMRC Heritage Foundation.
