Rose Marie McMann

Rose Marie McMann, age 96, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 29, 2024. Born in January 1928 in Flint, Michigan, she was the daughter of Oliver and Josephine Smith. She was raised in Ovid, Michigan where she graduated from high school in 1945. She then attended Michigan State University for one year during which she met her husband, Leland McMann. Rose Marie and Leland married in September 1947 in her hometown and enjoyed 65 years of marriage until his passing in April 2012. They lived in Springfield, Illinois, Toledo, Ohio, and various places in Michigan before they moved to Wilmington, Delaware in 1964.

Rose Marie was passionate about horticulture and antique jewelry. She was a long-time member of the African Violet Society, Orchid Society, and local Garden Club. She was a certified National Council Flower Judge and raised a wide variety of violets and orchids. One of her greatest pleasures was to sit on her front porch and bask in the beauty of her plants and flowers. Rose Marie’s enduring interest in antique jewelry led her to be an active antique dealer at the Pennsbury Antique Mall in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania from 1990 to 2016. She was a collector at heart and enjoyed finding and acquiring many things.

She was a member of the Aldersgate Methodist Church Women’s Circle and enjoyed card club meetings, ballroom dancing, and playing the organ. In her fifties, she faced her fear of water and learned to swim. She loved to travel and particularly enjoyed her trips to Europe, Hawaii, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

Rose Marie is predeceased by her loving husband, Leland McMann. She is survived by her three children, David McMann, Susan (Dan) North and Jim (Donna) McMann.  She is also survived by her beloved 12 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in her honor to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, www.stjude.org/donate.

Her family is thankful for the cherished friends and neighbors who helped care for Rose Marie and the wonderful Wingmom North Delaware Organization.

Friends and family are welcome for a visitation on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at 10:00am at Chandler Funeral Home, 2506 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803. A service will follow at 11:00am. Interment will be private.