Submitted by: Dan Rich
Nov. 11, 1927 - July 31, 2008
South Bend Tribune 8/2/2008
SOUTH BEND - Rose Mary "Rosie" Corcoran, 80, of
South Bend, died July 31, 2008 after a lengthy battle with
Parkinson Disease at the Sanctuary at St. Pauls. Born November
11, 1927, she was the daughter of J. Garland and Rose Leona (Holloway)
Taylor. She attended St. Peter's Elementary School and
LaPorte High School. She graduated from Holy Cross School of
Nursing with her diploma, obtained her Bachelor of Science in
nursing degree from Goshen College and her Masters of Science in
Education degree from Indiana University. She married Eugene
Thomas "Tom" Corcoran, Jr., a life long resident of
South Bend, graduate of Notre Dame University and a member of the
United States Marine Corp, on August 12, 1950. Shortly
thereafter, Tom reported to Quantico, VA and was sent to Korea
for a tour of duty. They lived in Virginia and California while
Tom was an active member of the Marines. After his honorable
discharge, they made there home in South Bend. Rosie worked at
St. Joseph Hospital and eventually became a school nurse assigned
to Darden School for the South Bend Community School Corporation.
They were parishioners of Little Flower Catholic Church, Christ
the King Catholic Church and Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church
over the years. Rosie was a member of the Indiana State Nursing
Association.
Rosie was widowed in May 1990, when Tom died
of cancer at the age of 62. She is survived by her daughters
Kathryn Artnak (Joseph) of San Angelo, TX; Martha Lustik
(Thom); Suzanne Elliott (Dan); Mary Beth Hoover (Mark),
all of South Bend; Judith Benckart (Ted) of Bloomington,
IN; Karen Thomas (Bill) of Halethorpe, MD; Kathleen Penny (Doug)
of Grand Rapids, MI; and son Eugene Thomas "Tom"
Corcoran III (Laura) of Glenview, IL; grandchildren, Joe,
Stephanie, Shannon and Adam Artnak; Scott Catanzarite
(Michelle); Jeff and Dean Catanzarite; Elizabeth Ganzhorn
(Jason); Courtney, Ryan and Lauren Elliott; Kelsy, Logan and Ryne
Benckart; Kyle, Nikki and Molly Hoover; Brittany and
Michael Thomas; Michael and Brendon Penny; Kiera and Declan
Corcoran. In addition, Rosie is survived by three great-grand
children, Owen and Payton Catanzarite and Eva Siddalee Benckart;
her brothers, Jack Taylor (Virginia), LaPorte, IN and Gerald
Taylor (Kathy), Kalamazoo, MI; her sisters, Norma Jean Hannon
of Westville, IN and Catherine Cantwell (Phil) of San
Pedro, CA. She is also survived by her brother-in-law John
Corcoran (Mary Ann) of Wickenburg, AZ; brother-in-law Jim
Corcoran (Libby) of Phoenix, AZ; brother-in-law Joseph Corcoran
(Patti) of South Bend, IN, sister-in-law Cass Taylor, of LaPorte,
IN. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. She was
predeceased by her parents and her brother, William Taylor.
There will not be visitation. Services will
be held at the Sanctuary at St. Pauls, 3602 S. Ironwood Drive at
10:00 a.m. in the main Chapel. Will Braniff and Father Derrick
Sneyd will be officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family asks
that donations be made to the American Parkinson Disease
Association, Inc., 135 Parkinson Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10305
or Harbor Lights Hospice, 4330 Miami Street, South Bend, IN
46614. The family will be gathering after the services at the
Elks Lodge B P O E No. 235, and invite all to join them to
celebrate the life and legacy of Rose Mary.