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Photo of Gwendolyn Rosario
In Memory Of

Gwendolyn Rosario


Obituary


Gwendolyn Randella Rosario, nee Tiseth, age 96, of Berwyn formerly of Oak Park. Beloved wife of the late Howard Foreit and the late Anthony Albert Rosario, Sr.; loving mother of Dawn (the late Stanley) Wloch, Thomas (Darlene) Foreit, John Foreit, Paul (Kathy) Foreit, Roseann (Steven) Janusz, Anthony Rosario, Jr., Randi (Gary) Holm-Bertelsen, and the late Wendy Rosario; devoted step mother of Edward (Georgiana) Rosario, Mary (Bernie) Stevens Cash, the late Joseph (Barbara) Rosario, Susan Rosario, Sandra Sabo and David (Kim) Rosario; grandmother of 17, great grandmother of 21; sister of Lucy (Jack) Bornstein; sister in law of Rose Hennen; aunt of 6; daughter of the late Oscar Tiseth and the late Arvella Tiseth, nee Bluhm.

There was so much to Gwen, so many sides and colors in her life. And if you knew Gwen, there were never “too many” colors. Growing up in the depression and coming of age when the whole world was at war, she was no stranger to hardship, sorrow, and sacrifice. But that probably contributed to her resourcefulness and resilience.

Gwen found herself widowed in her 20s with four small children and again later in life. She noted that marriage didn’t necessarily mean security. Her security, it seemed, came in self-reliance and helping others — coming through for the ones who needed her even if she was also hurting.

Although she was an only child until the age of 12, she enjoyed being the matriarch to a small army. There wasn’t always enough money, enough space, enough time, or sometimes enough patience, managing 10 children, but there were plenty of hijinks, celebrations, and good, home-cooked meals in Gwen’s home. Her Christmas Eve celebrations were legendary–her home filled with family, friends, decorations, chaos and a table ladened with food that boggles the imagination. She was generous with good advice, kind words and her love. Her extended family would also attest to this. The step kids she did not raise could feel it and she was more than overjoyed when they returned her warmth by gifting her more grandchildren and great-grandchildren to adore.

Gwen was a collector of all sorts of cute, funny, and furry things. She could always find room in her life for another plant, another pet, and anyone who needed a mom. She shared something unique and special with everyone she loved, Yet she remained her own person, headstrong and independent. She never bragged, preferring self-effacing humor and a distinctly Midwestern humble manner in public. But she was sharper, stronger, more creative than she would ever admit — possibly more than she knew. She was also the best storyteller of family history and lore with a great memory and dramatic flair. Even stressed out and overworked she could be most entertaining by inventing a weird dance or walking like a pigeon. For most of her life, coffee and slim menthols were her jet fuel. When she could relax, she either had a book, crochet project, or a cat — in her lap. Her generation — the women who worked at home and the ones who worked both inside and outside (like Gwen did in the 80s) were rarely praised for “multi-tasking” but they were the true masters. If spending most of her life within a 10 mile radius of Chicago ever bothered her, she never said. She knew the world and how it worked by the many thousands of books she read and her morning Tribune. While her body and health started a sharp decline in her later years, her hands and mind stayed active. She hoped to stay with us until her 97th birthday, but it was also so-very-much Gwen to make a quiet exit the day before.  While heartbroken, her family is just so very grateful to have had her as long as they did as her true self: funny, fierce, impossibly stubborn, and ever loving. Gwen, to the very end.

Memorial Visitation Friday, January 31, 2025 from 8:30 A.M. to time of Service 11 A.M. at Hitzeman Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 9445 31stStreet, Brookfield, IL 60513.

Please click on Livestream. Service will begin at 11:00 A.M.

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Interment Private Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside.

In lieu of flowers memorials appreciated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105

Information 708-485-2000 or www.HitzemanFuneral.com


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