Rose Marie McNelis
September 28, 1949 - October 14, 2022
On Friday, October 14, 2022, Rose Marie McNelis of Landenberg, PA, a loving wife and mother of 3 children passed away suddenly, at age 73.
Rose was born on September 28, 1949 in New Castle, Delaware to the late John and Margaret (Salatka) Chiglinsky. Rose graduated from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor’s in nursing and French. At UD, Rose met her future husband Joe and they married in 1975. During the first 13 years of their marriage, they lived on Little Mill Lane in Bear, DE where all 3 children were born. Rose spent her entire career as a nurse, caring for others and later earned a master’s degree in nutrition. Rose loved traveling and everything French. Her fondest memory was when her father paid for her to spend a semester in Paris. She was able to find and connect with distant relatives in Lithuania and visited them twice in the last 10 years. She was extremely proud of her Lithuanian heritage.
Rose liked to sew and made all of her children and grandchildren beautiful Christmas stockings. She loved dining out, Philadelphia sports (especially the Phillies and Eagles), reading, learning new languages, and photography. She also loved gardening, especially her roses and was proud of her new rose garden. Rose and Joe enjoyed camping and fishing and passed along the love of the North Maine Woods to their children, especially Pat and his kids. She adored Landenberg and the beauty of the country that surrounded the home she built with Joe for 34 years. She valued education and pushed all her children to succeed in school and follow their dreams. She was incredibly proud of her children. Rose treasured every holiday and believed strongly in family tradition. Good food and a stiff drink were always included in family gatherings. She was an excellent cook; her oyster stew, crab cakes, baked brie, apple fritters and cookies will be dearly missed.
Rose’s life changed with the birth of her first grandchild, when she became Nana Rose. Her grandchildren were the loves of her life and she spoiled them to the point of ridiculousness.
We pray she is at peace and currently walking the streets of Paris.
Rose is survived by her husband of 47 years, Joseph McNelis; their 3 children, Dr. Laura Johnson (Jason), Patrick McNelis (Bridget), and Christopher McNelis (Hilary); siblings, Marjorie Ann Chiglinsky, and John Richard Chiglinsky. The most precious people in Rose’s life were her 8 grandchildren; Sean, Rowan, Benjamin, Colin, Logan, Quinn, Grayson and Miles.
A visitation for family and friends will be held from 3 pm until 4 pm on Monday, October 24, 2022 at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 121 West Park Place, Newark, DE, where a funeral service will begin at 4 pm. Interment will be held privately.
Min and Frank Pusey
Dear Joe and family,
Our hearts are sad knowing yours are broken. We send our love and deepest sympathy as you grieve your wife and Mother, Rose. May she rest in peace.
Our prayers are with you all during this difficult time.
Min and Frank Pusey
Kelley Bryant
Joe, Laura, Pat, Chris, and families, I am so very sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Sara Sparks
Laura and family, you are all in my prayers. My heart is saddened with your sudden loss. Your mother was a beautiful soul and I always enjoyed spending time with her. Hugs to all of you.
Deborah
You will be sorely missed. I love you and may you rest in peace until we meet again. I’ll always treasure the times we spent together and the talks we had.
Margaret A. Pierce
Joe, Laura, Pat and Chris so sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to all of you. May God comfort you in your time of need. Prayers being sent your way. Love you all.
Kathy Willey
Rose and I have been friends since grade 6. We were roommates at the University of Delaware and shared so many life experiences as we got older, marriage, children, losses, and then the great blessing of becoming grandmothers. We both loved Paris and travelled there together a couple years ago where we explored Paris and ate at some of Rose’s favorite restaurants. That is how I will always remember Rose sitting in a cafe, drinking a cafe creme, people watching. I hope her spirit is visiting there now, free from any earthy limitations.
Rose was a dear friend, pure soul , and loving mother and grandmother. She will be deeply missed.
Angela Pugh
Dear McNelis Family,
Although I did not know Rose I wish that I had. Her beautiful and lovingly-written obituary describes an amazing woman, wife, mother, and Nana; the kind of woman I wish were showcased much more in this world. I am sure that the wisdom, love, and joie de vivre that Rose brought to life will never be forgotten. I am so sorry for your loss and hope that your memories can bring you some comfort.
Rita McCloskey
Joe, Laura, Pat, and Chris….my heart goes out to you all. May Rose rest in peace now free from illness and pain. I will always remember her kind, caring spirit and that is sure to live on in your family.
My thoughts and prayers are with you. 💜
Pauletta Borroughs
Joe, I am so very sorry for the loss of your beloved wife, Rose. Sending you Patrick and all of your family my love and prayers.🙏🙏🙏
Joel Michalec
Dear Joe & Family,
We are heartbroken over your loss of such a wonderful woman, Rose. Please know that Sharen and I are keeping you all close in our hearts as you grieve and we are sending healing thoughts and hopes that your minds will be flooded with your good memories. Thinking of you all,
Joel & Sharen
Karen Bacot
Joe, Pat, Laura and Chris,
I am so sorry to hear about Rose. It’s just heartbreaking. Life goes too quickly.🙏
Matthew Chiglinsky
She was a good Aunt. When I was a kid, it was a yearly tradition for me and my mom to visit her house every year to go trick-or-treating on Halloween (back when she and my cousins lived in Crofton), have dinner on Thanksgiving, and open presents on Christmas Eve.
There were also numerous other times when she would have me over to play with my cousins. I guess it was technically babysitting while my mom was at work, but to me it was just playtime.
I always felt welcome at their house, my home away from home.
Michael Sayre
Sorry to hear about Rose. We worked together in LTC. She was a wonderful lady. I will think of her traveling to Paris in a couple of weeks.
Debbie and Paul Montigney
So sorry to hear about Rose. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Paul and Cindy Greenplate
Beautiful video. What a beautiful family and wonderful life Rose had. We are so sorry for your terrible loss. I know she will be terribly missed.
I remember Rose’s kindness when she helped us with my mother when she was dying. Interestingly Rose’s death was 21 years later on the same day. We will remember her very fondly.
Evelyn Chickadel
I worked with Rose Marie in the mid-seventies and attended her wedding. We reconnected last year and we shared many memories and caught up for the years we missed. My deepest sympathy to her family. I will think of her enjoying a Cafe au lait in her favorite city. RIP my friend until we meet again. ☕
Christina (Daniel) Von Seggern
Oh Laura, Pat, and Chris, I am so sorry for your loss. I wish I could be there with you today. Your mom always made me feel so welcome in your home and I loved that she and I kept in touch via long handwritten notes in our Christmas cards. I miss you all and knowing she won’t be right up the street when I visit my parents, makes the distance away feel even longer. Sending you all lots of love and strength today and in the time ahead. Love, Christina
Meredith (Becker) Nickson
I am so sorry for your loss. Praying for comfort for you all.
Maria J Cipolla
Dear McNelis Family,
I am so very sorry for your loss. Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to meet your lovely Rose, I I feel I know her from your beautiful obituary. I know you will honor her and make her proud with the lives you live. I will honor her next Spring by planting a rose bush in my garden. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Dawn Baker
What a beautiful tribute to a beautiful person. Although I never got the chance to meet her in person, I can tell from her precious family that I have met that she was an awesome wife, Mom and Grandmom. May God give you His comfort and your memories always keep her in your heart.
Linda Doto
My deepest sympathy for your loss. I hope that the Lord will comfort you at the time. I wanted to let you know that the crew at Action Security are thinking about you.
God Bless You.
Linda Doto
John Fehrenbach
Joe and Family—So sorry to hear about Rose. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
John & Margie
Charles Cooper
I’m saddened to hear about Rose. Love and deepest sympathy to Joe and family.
Charley Cooper