Rosemary Therese Monnin

The heavens are telling the glory of God as they welcome in their newest singer and dancer. Rose peacefully transitioned on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, after a 13-year journey with Alzheimer’s. She was surrounded in love, prayer, and music, and died as she lived…gracefully, gently, and in time for a celestial New Year’s Eve dance.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 22, 2026, from 5:00PM -7:30PM at Mueller Funeral Home, 6791 Tylersville Rd, Mason, OH 45040. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated the following day on Friday, January 23, 2026, at 11:00AM at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 9080 Cincinnati Dayton Rd, West Chester, OH 45069.

Rosie is preceded in death by her parents, Floyd and Frieda Monnin; older sisters, Doris Hoying and Joyce Lampert (Don); and brothers-in-law, Bud Hoying and Pat Eilerman. Rosie is survived by her life partner of 50 years, Nan Fischer; siblings, Floyd (Rosemary) Monnin, Carol (Ben) Bell, Phyllis Eilerman, Dan (Sally) Monnin, Mike (Bonnie) Monnin, and Angie (Ron) Zimmerman; 19 nieces and nephews; and 30+ great nieces and nephews. She is also survived by a large and loving circle of friends and companions that she had met and loved along the way: she was one of 86 cousins in the Borchers family, as well as dozens of Monnin cousins; longtime friends of 64 years from her convent high school days; the C.P.P.S. community of the Sisters of the Precious Blood (Dayton); former 5th grade students from St. Margaret Mary Parish (North College Hill); young adults who are now in their 50’s and 60’s from her youth ministry days at Maria Stein Retreat Center (Maria Stein, OH) and Mary, Help of Christians Parish (Fairborn, OH); classmates from Loyola University and other workshops and programs she attended or led; friends from her Christ Renews His Parish teams, Faith Sharing groups and many more companions on the journey from St. John Parish (West Chester, OH); colleagues and friends from Mercy Hospital’s Palliative Care program; fellow friends and travelers encountered on the Alzheimer’s journey from the Alzheimer’s Association, Catholic Charities Caregiver Assistance Network, Episcopal Retirements Services Memory Support Center, and the Giving Voice Foundation; the Fischer family and Nan’s circles of friends who claim her as one of their own.

Rose wore many hats in her long career: 5th and 6th grade teacher; Youth Minister; Pastoral Associate; Massage and Holistic Therapist. However, at the core of whatever she was doing was who she was being…a fully alive human who was divinely connected. It’s a bit tricky to try and distill Rose’s life into a paragraph or so. It’s a bit like the song from “The Sound of Music” where the sisters are trying to describe Maria… will o’ the wisp, flibbertigibbet, gentle, clown, moonbeam, a wave upon the sand. To know her was to know love and goodness and to experience a sense of the divine within yourself and the world around you. Her gifts of affirmation, healing touch, zest for life and respect for all creation motivated others to find their own unique ways to radiate light, love and goodness for the benefit of all God’s people.

Family and Friends would like to thank the Alois Alzheimer’s Care Center, Hospice of Southwest Ohio and Suncrest Hospice for the professional, personable, attentive and expert care Rosie received.

So many people have already been so financially generous in making it possible for Rosie to have a private room at Alois during her 3.8 year stay, so it’s hard to imagine what’s left to donate. However, in lieu of flowers, those that still wish to do so may make a contribution to Alois Alzheimer’s Care Foundation which sponsored many programs and activities that benefited Rose.