Rosalia (Rosa Mae) Speaker, 97, long time resident of Allegan, died on her wedding anniversary, June 26, 2017, in Beecher, Ill.
She was preceded in death by her husband Robert who together with Rosalia built the A-frame they so loved on Lake Allegan.
She loved to celebrate Christmas in July at the lake house surrounded by her three daughters, Suzanne of Bartlett, Ill., Jeanette (James) of Oregon, Wisc., Anita McIlhany of Springfield, Ill.; her son Robert (Lynne) of Crete, Ill.; 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Rosalia was born May 30, 1920, in Fithian, Ill., and had four sisters and one brother with one sister surviving.
Rosalia was an avid golfer who loved to play at Cheshire Hills well into her 90s. She also belonged to a bowling league and bowled in the winter when she could not golf.
She made brown spaghetti, beef stroganoff, dill dip and homemade hot fudge to go on the gallons of ice cream she kept in her freezer. She told us in her next life she would have a huge kitchen with sharp knives and all the latest appliances. We hope that is so.
She was a member of the Allegan United Methodist Church and once received a standing ovation for her solo rendition of Sweet Little Jesus Boy at Christmas.
She accompanied her husband Robert for years on the piano when he gave private voice lessons in their Olympia Fields, Ill., home that they also built together.
Rosalia was a great seamstress who sewed winter coats, leisure suits and clothes for the grandchildren. She knitted sweaters for all the grandchildren as well.
She owned a red Mini-Cooper which she loved driving around town. After seeing the movie “The Italian Job” she announced that was the car she wanted to buy. It was the only Mini in Allegan at the time so she enjoyed the notoriety.
She loved doing jigsaw puzzles but hated the ones with too much sky. She would put in a piece and give it a tap with her finger.
She will be greatly missed by friends and family.
There will be a celebration of life in the Chicago area in the fall.
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