Rosemary H. Shellander, 83

Rosemary H. Shellander, 83, of Palatine, passed away peacefully on January 15, 2012, at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights surrounded by her family.

Rosemary was born December 16, 1928, in Chicago, Ill., to Walter and Rosena Fagan Jonas. She was raised in Lake Geneva, Wis. graduating from Lake Geneva High School in 1946.  Rosemary was a 1950 graduate of Marymount College, Salina, Kan.,  and received her M.A. degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1957. She taught English, speech and directed school dramatic productions at Nekoosa, Reedsburg and Kenosha’s Mary D. Bradford High Schools.

Rosemary married Albert W. Shellander, Jr. at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Lake Geneva on August 5, 1961, thereafter they moved to Arlington Heights, Ill. and later to Palatine, Ill., where she has lived since 1970.  Rosemary taught part-time in the English Department at William Rainey Harper College from its inception in 1967 until her retirement in 2002.  Over the years, Rosemary also taught at Oakton and Elgin Community Colleges and Palatine and Schaumburg High Schools.

Rosemary is survived by four children, Thomas W. Shellander and his wife Mary Ruedinger of Fitchburg, Wis.; Mary J. Shellander of Palatine; Margaret R. Schiemann and her husband, David, of Naperville; Nancy P. Ikenberry and her husband, David, of Boulder, Colo.; grandchildren, Laura M. Shellander,  Nicholas J. Shellander, Lauren E. Schiemann, Brian E. Schiemann, Erin E. Schiemann, Kathryn R. Ikenberry and John L. Ikenberry.

Rosemary was preceded in death by her husband, parents, sister, Barbara A. Flood, and beloved son, James M. Shellander, whose life was tragically taken in an automobile accident in 1984 when he was 17 years old.

Rosemary was a devoted and founding member of Saint Thomas of Villanova Catholic Church in Palatine and in recent years she had found friendship in the Golden Villanovans senior group.  A long time member of the League of Women Voters, she served on its board for many years.  Rosemary had many friends and her selfless, calm spirit will be missed by so many.

Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 19, 2012, at Ahlgrim Funeral Home, 201 N. Northwest Hwy., Palatine, IL 60067.  Prayers will be said Friday, January 20, 2012, at 9:30 a.m. at the funeral home, with a mass of Christian Burial beginning at 10:00 a.m. at Saint Thomas of Villanova Church, 1201 East Anderson Drive, Palatine, IL 60074.  Interment will follow at Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Cemetery, in Palatine.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in her name may be made to Roads to Life Tanzania, Inc., to benefit Rosemary’s cousin Rev. Paul E. Fagan’s ongoing mission work in Tanzania, Africa.  Contributions may be directed to 3035 Osmundsen Road, Fitchburg, WI 53711.  The family wishes to thank the medical staff at Northwest Community Hospital’s ICU for their skilled and compassionate care.

For information, call Ahlgrim Family Funeral Home, Palatine, at 847-358-7411, or visit www.ahlgrimffs.com.