Rosemary (Lee) Finderson

Rosemary (Lee) Finderson, age 82, of Witmer Lake, went to be with our Lord on Monday, July 23, 2018 at Dekalb Memorial Hospital in Auburn with her family by her side. Mrs. Finderson was born in Huntington, Indiana on January 31, 1936 to the late M. DeVon Lee and E. Bernadine (Cain) Kennedy. She graduated from Wabash High School in 1953. Rosemary went on to graduate from the Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing in Fort Wayne and spent much of her life devoted to caring for others as a registered nurse. She received a Certificate of Surgical Nursing from the University of Chicago and spent years assisting in operating rooms from Indiana to New England. With art always a passion, Rosemary later went on to graduate, with honors, from Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke, VA with a double major in Fine and Commercial Art. As an accomplished artist with numerous awards, Rosemary loved finding beauty in people and her surroundings and duplicating that, without fear, to canvas. Rosemary was married to Rudy Finderson on September 3, 1960 at the First Presbyterian Church in Wabash, Indiana. Some of her greatest accomplishments in addition to art and nursing were establishing church daycare programs and volunteering for a community theatre program, the Livingston Players in Brighton, MI where, as president, she renamed them “The Scene Stealers.” While there she earned many awards for set designs and her acting skills. In the community, Rosemary was a third generation Tri Kappa sorority member and spent countless hours volunteering in the Fort Wayne area. As a child and continuing into adulthood, Rosemary loved the poetry of Hoosier poet, James Whitcomb Riley. She was always happy to share her knowledge of the highlights of his colorful life. As well-established Christians, Rosemary and Rudy are members of St. John Lutheran Church in Kendallville.

Survivors include:
Husband, Rudy Finderson of Witmer Lake.
Daughter, Rhonda and Matt DeKoninck of Auburn.
Son, Roger and Terra Finderson of Auburn.
Six grandchildren: Nickolas DeKoninck of Fort Wayne; Kyle DeKoninck of Fort Wayne; Noah DeKoninck of Auburn; Delaney Finderson, Zaira Finderson, and D’Artagnan Finderson all of Auburn.
Brother, Dan and Amanda Lee of Warsaw.
She was also preceded in death by her stepfather, Byron C. Kennedy.

There will be a gathering of family and friends on Friday from 4:00 -7:00 PM at Hite Funeral Home in Kendallville.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, July 28, 2018 at 2:00 PM at Hite Funeral Home with Rev. Randall L. Glander officiating.
Memorial donations may be made to Riley Hospital for Children or Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana.
Share a favorite memory or send a condolence online at www.hitefuneralhome.com
Arrangements by Hite Funeral Home.

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