Rosemarie “Ro” Raddie
Rosemarie Raddie was born in Gardner, Massachusetts on June 25, 1928 and was preceded in death by her parents Diego and Yvonne Crivellaro of Hyde Park, Massachusetts. Rosemarie passed away peacefully at home in Redwood City surrounded by her children Michael Jon Raddie (Terese) and Lisa Jeanne Simmonds (Muruga). She exceeded a 6 month prognosis and survived 15 months after a terminal cancer diagnosis. During this long illness she fought bravely and maintained a high level of independence as long as possible.
Always an independent person, after graduating Hyde Park High in Massachusetts, she went to work for the Columban Fathers missionary society and attended a local business school. Always patriotic and adventurous, Rosemarie responded to the call during the Korean War by joining the US Marine Corps. She was part of a Valentine days platoon of women from Boston who enlisted in 1951. After training she was assigned to duty in San Francisco. She was honorably discharged in 1954 with the rank of Staff Sergeant. During her time in the service she met and married now ex-husband Michael Raddie of Paterson, New Jersey with whom she had 3 children. (Her daughter Linda Rose Raddie, preceded her in death in 2003).
Besides creating a fun and loving home for her three children in South San Francisco, Rosemarie worked in the office at Saint Veronica’s School where two of her children attended. She tutored children and led many fund raisers and events. Always artistic and creative, Rosemarie started doing crafts in the 1970s and kept this up until very recently. Her beautiful wreaths, angels and ornaments sold very well in various local craft fairs. Rosemarie made the move down to the south peninsula in 1979 and had remained in the Redwood City area ever since.
Rosemarie’s passions included gardening, trips to Las Vegas with her daughter Lisa, following the Golden State Warriors, San Francisco Giants, enjoying watching Niner games with her son, doing jigsaw and crossword puzzles, bargain hunting and tending to her feral cats. Her most abiding passion, however, was her love of family. No one was more important to her than her grandchildren: Christopher Raddie (Jillian), Danielle Theobald (Austin), Sarah Simmonds, grandchildren-inlaw Nicholas and Samantha Tonarelli, and her two baby great-grandchildren Declan Theobald and Ellie Raddie.
Rosemarie is also survived by her brothers Louis Crivellaro (Carole), Charles Crivellaro (Annie), Paul Crivellaro (Marjorie-Deceased) and many nieces and nephews.
Donations: In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider donating to one of the charities Rosemarie supported in her honor: Homeless Cat Network: http://www.homelesscatnetwork.com/donations. html Habitat for Humanity: https://www.habitat.org/ donate/?keyword=header American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/