Rosemary L (Hendron) Macken

Rosemary Macken (nee Hendron)

Rosemary Macken, born April 29, 1923 in St. Louis Mo., passed into Eternal Life peacefully on April 19, 2023 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, after a stroke. She was fortified by the sacraments of Holy Mother Church. She was preceded in death by her mother Florence Decker Hendron, her father Joseph Felix Hendron, 12 siblings, and her beloved husband (Deacon) Lawrence T. Macken. She is survived by her son Tom Macken, daughter-in-law and special caretaker Luisa Garcia Macken, grandchildren Alicia (Michael) Wells, Sean Macken, Kevin Macken and great-granddaughters (her "Macushlas"—Gaelic for 'dear ones') Lucinda Rosemary Wells and Emilia Sophia Wells, nephew Patrick Noonan, and many dearly loved nieces, nephews and cousins of the Hendron, Stanger, McGovern, Murphy and other clans, along with her many God-children.
Rosemary was born and raised in St. Louis by a single mom as the third youngest of 13 children in the deepest poverty during the depression. She recalled being very poor, but very happy in her youth. She was one of the few Hendron children privileged to go to grade school and then high school. She graduated from St. Alphonsus "Rock" High School.
After high school in 1942, Rosemary found the first "job of a lifetime" in St. Louis at the Queen's Work, a Jesuit ministry of the Sodality of Mary, taking dictation for Fr. Daniel A. Lord, S.J., founder of the Queen's Work. She also worked closely there with Fr. Edward Dowling, S.J., spiritual co-creator of Alcoholics Anonymous along with Bill Nelson. She then moved to the recreation department, organizing and running dances and other social events for the Summer Schools of Catholic Action, travelling around the country, along with her best friend Jane (Crump) Sudhoff.
Rosemary later found the 2nd "job of a lifetime" and joined the faculty at St. Jerome Catholic School in Bissell Hills, Mo. as a kindergarten teacher. Rosemary taught at St. Jerome's parish for 25+ years. She taught two generations of St. Jerome's kindergarteners, sometimes carrying two sessions of 50 kids each (you read that right!) daily without a teacher's aid. She dearly loved each and every one of those beautiful kindergarteners, many of whom still remember her fondly as their best teacher ever!
Rosemary came to New Mexico in 2017 to live in a retirement home to be close to Tom and Luisa and their family, and moved in with them when the Covid-19 pandemic struck.
Always a favorite with nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, in-laws, and friends in New Mexico and in St. Louis with her caring concern for their lives and her generous nature, she was a people person, loved everyone she ever met (save very few!), was most proud of her Irish heritage, was very well loved and will be very much missed. Rosemary had a big servant's heart, especially for the underprivileged, the disadvantaged and the outcast. It gave her great joy to help, often alongside her husband Larry, whoever and whenever she could.
Special thanks to Rosemary's daughter-in-law and ever present caregiver and "intensive care nurse" Luisa, her nieces Donna Stanger, Maureen McGovern, Rosemary McGovern Hollis, Janine McGovern, Maura Crump, her nephew Pat Noonan, and her special card playing chums Darlene and Christina, for their loving concern and consistent presence for Rosemary over many, many years. Rosemary loved and enjoyed her grandchildren, and especially cherished frequent visits from her Macushlas.
Services will be held in Albuquerque, NM on May 17, 2023, at Risen Savior Catholic Community with visitation at 9:00 am, Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m., and a reception to follow in the Parish Center.
Services in St. Louis, Mo. will be on May 31, 2023, at Holy Infant Parish in Ballwin, Mo. with visitation at 9:00 am, Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m., and a reception to follow in the Parish Center and interment at Calvary Cemetery after the reception.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Missionary Sisters of St. Peter Claver by calling 314.469.4932; to Revitalization 2000, Inc. helping residents of the historic Ville Neighborhood of North St. Louis at (314) 265-3257 or revitalization2000.stl@gmail.com; or Catholic Charities of New Mexico by calling 505.724.4670.
Please visit her online guestbook to read Rosemary's full obituary and to leave a cherished memory of her at www.directorschoicenm.com

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