Rose Marie West, 84, of Ottawa, passed away on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 13, 2025 at St. Columba Church, with Rev. Justin Ramza, officiating. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. on Friday, at the church. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
Rose was born on September 25, 1940 in Ottawa, IL to Amato “Mat” and Irene (Batistini) Salomone. She married Edward T. West on September 1, 1962 at Fort Gordon in Augusta, GA. Rose worked at Handy Foods for 28 years. She loved her grandchildren and attended many sporting events when they were younger to cheer them on. Rose Marie would make breakfast for everyone before the early morning fishing and hunting trips and eagerly awaited the stories when Edward and the grandkids would return. She loved baking, especially at Christmas and was famous for her pizzelles that she would make one at a time. When the smell of anise permeated the house, you knew the holidays were upon us.
After she retired, she enjoyed taking trips with Edward and checking out the casinos. Eventually, she started putting puzzles together and always had one going.
From the many years working at Handy Foods West, people would recognize her and stop to chat even when she was traveling out of town. She loved seeing people and always shared her beautiful smile.
She is survived by her husband, Edward West, of Ottawa; two daughters, Diane (Donald Wiencek) Ristau and Christine (Leroy) South; five grandchildren, Zachary and Noah Ristau, Michael and Jeremy Wheeler, and Esperanza (Ramos) Mendoza; seven great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother Edward J. Salomone and sister Mary Jane “Dolly” (Salomone) West.
Memorials may be directed to the family.
You may sign the online guestbook and share remembrances at www.MuellerFH.com. Mueller Funeral Home and Crematory 800 First Avenue, Ottawa, IL 61350 815-434-4433