Rosemary Winder Strange

ROSEMARY WINDER STRANGE

Rosemary W. Strange passed away peacefully on April 15, 2024, at the age of ninety. She was born February 18th, 1934, in Manhatton, New York to William and Ruth Winder.

Rosemary was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Bill, and her husband: Russell H Strange.

She is survived by her sister: Sister Patricia Winder, and her cat Louise. Stepsons: Trey (Tammy) Strange & Stuart Strange. Nieces and Nephews: Russell (David Schaefer) Williams, Cindra (Martin) Finney, Mary Gartland, Julia Pulcifer, Debra (David) Worley, Alexander (Jane) Strange III, Scott McGowan, Michael (Eileen) Strange, & Andrew (Mary) Strange. Significant Other: George Holborow

Rosemary graduated from high school in Brooklyn, NY, obtained her bachelor’s degree from St. Joseph’s College in Philadelphia, and her master’s degree from Catholic University’s School of Social Work. Rosemary had a 55-year career at Catholic Charities retiring as the Director of Family Services. In leadership during the 1960’s in Mobile, Alabama she worked for the advancement of civil rights. Later, she helped those on dialysis in Baltimore, she learned sign language at Gallaudet to communicate with the deaf community, she was involved in fundraising and made multiple trips to Vietnam and assisted Vietnamese immigrants that settled in the National Capital Region. Rosemary travelled with President Clinton to Haiti to assist with donation efforts after an uprising, and while working with Caritas, she assembled a group that travelled to the Ukraine on multiple occasions to help those in need.

Her dedication and commitment was apparent in a case in which she spent 17 years assisting an imprisoned South African in obtaining Australian citizenship so that he could be reunited with his family.

In her retirement, she was Assistant Chaplain for prison ministries, and a member of the DC chapter of CURE, an international judicial reform and prisoner advocacy organization. Rosemary spent most of her life working on social justice issues and dedicated her life to helping others including those less fortunate. She was exceedingly kind, compassionate, a pillar in the community, and an unforgettable Woman.

Services will be held on April 20th, 2024: 1:00 pm. Knollwood Chapel.

Internment by family at Epiphany Cathedral in Venice, Florida

Memorial donations can be made to:

Caritas Ukraine – Catholic Relief Organization

Online Donations: https:www.caritas.eu/war-in-ukraine/

District of Columbia -C.U.R.E.

PO. Box 15067 - S.E Station, 600 Pennsylvania Ave. SE,

Washington, DC 20003 cure.washdc@yahoo.com

Please make checks payable to - DC-CURE

Care entrusted to Thibadeau Mortuary Service, p.a., 124 E. Diamond Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD 20877, (301)495-4950, www.interfaithfunerals.com