Rose Mary Eschbach died peacefully in her home on July 6, 2024 at the age of 96.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, September 27, 2024 at St. Francis of Assisi Church with Msgr. Mark Merdian, Pastor, officiating. Private burial will take place at Calvary Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
Born of German immigrants in a small town in Kansas, her family moved to Ottawa during her early childhood. Rose attended St. Francis and St. Columba grade schools and Ottawa High School. Rose married Virgil Hermes Eschbach on September 17, 1949 at Saint Francis Church in Ottawa. Two years later they built a new home just a short walk from the church. In 1952 Rose and Virgil began raising their family in the home they would reside in the rest of their lives. As her children got older Rose worked at the JC Penney downtown store, and later for Snap On Tools. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters, a perpetual blood donor, and a longtime volunteer at Ottawa’s hospital. Rose is survived by her four children, Bob Eschbach (John Ross), Nancy (Bernie) Raibley, Sharon Coleman and Jim (Laura) Eschbach, and her grandchildren Zach Raibley, Mallory Potter and Ariel Miller, as well as five great grandchildren.
Rose was preceded in death by her husband Virgil, her parents, Xavier and Anna Ernst, her sister Henrietta Cross, her brother George Ernst, her half-brother Fred Ernst and her son-in-law Ken Coleman.
Memorial donations may be made to the Starved Rock Country Community Foundation, 241 Marquette Street, LaSalle, IL 61301, to be used for the planting of trees in Ottawa.
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