Our beautiful Mother, Rosemary Hennessy Rowland, 93, of Lenoir, NC, passed peacefully on May 8, 2026. Though her passing was unexpected, we take comfort in the fact that she remained vibrant, independent and active up to her final moments. Born the second of four children to parents William S. Hennessy II and Rose Conroy Hennessy on December 14, 1932 in Boston, MA, she would also live her life in Maryland, Florida, California, Wyoming, and finally North Carolina. Rosemary lived a remarkable life and was, above all else, a woman of deep and abiding faith in her savior Jesus Christ. Prayer was the cornerstone of her life. For many years, she faithfully devoted several hours each day to intercessory prayer-lifting up her family, friends, persecuted believers around the world and for the nation she loved. Her prayers became a quiet, but powerful ministry that touched countless lives.

She was a woman of extraordinary determination and built an illustrious professional career. During the "Golden Age of Space" she worked in NASA's Public Information Office in Cape Canaveral, FL (later known as Kennedy Space Center), where she met and escorted dignitaries from around the world during America's most historic era of exploration and space achievements. Her distinguished career culminated in service as a White House Political Appointee during the Reagan Administration, where she served as Executive Assistant to Constance Horner in the Office of Personnel Management.

Rosemary was generous to a fault, funny, loved to play games, was an avid reader, loved music and old movies. She was a true people person who kept in touch with her life-long and new friends. She could also be quite tenacious, and out-spoken, often without a filter! Yet in spite of her many other accomplishments and short-comings, Rosemary's greatest joy and highest calling was to her Lord and family. In one of her memoirs she wrote an unattributed quote, 'In light of eternity, what one believes is far more important than what one achieves." We believe she succeeded in every way.

She is lovingly survived by her children: Diane Rowland Silver (Craig), James Christopher Rowland (Judy), Janet Andrea Rowland McRae (Jim); by her five grandchildren: Kimberly Rowland, Stephen Silver (Jessica), Nicholas Silver (Stephanie), Bret Rowland, and Courtney Rowland Duve (Richard); and her eight great-grandchildren, all of whom she cherished.

She was preceded in death by her beloved parents, siblings, son, Paul, and her granddaughter, Ashley.

Rosemary leaves behind a legacy of love that will be deeply missed until that joyful day of reunion in God's eternal presence.