Rose Marie C. Finnegan

Rose Marie Conroy Finnegan, 79, of Charleston and wife of Dr. G. Thomas Finnegan, passed away early Sunday morning in her home. The relative and friends of Dr. and Mrs. G. Thomas Finnegan are invited to attend her Mass of Christian Burial 10:00 AM Wednesday, November 11, 2015 at St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church. The Rite of Committal will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery on James Island. The family will receive friends between 5:00 and 7:00 PM Tuesday at the James A. McAlister Funeral Home, 1620 Savannah Highway, Charleston. The Rosary will be recited at 6:30 PM. Online condolences may be offered at www.CharlestonFunerals.com. Rose Marie was the only child and daughter of the late Edward Joseph Conroy and Marie Nimmer Conroy of Summerton, SC. Rose Marie was born in Kingstree SC and graduated from Summerton High School in 1954. She attended Winthrop University where she graduated with degrees in Sociology and History. While at Winthrop, she was a member of several organizations and received numerous awards. Most notably, she was President of the school's Newman Club and a member of the History National Honor Society, both passions of hers. After graduating from Winthrop, she moved to Charleston SC, where she was employed as a case worker for the Charleston County Department of Social Services, covering the islands of Wadmalaw, Johns and Edisto. It was in Charleston, where she met her husband, Tommy, who was back in Charleston on a break from Orthodontic School. They were married for almost 53 wonderful years. After they were married, she taught English and History for several years to the airmen at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, NC, where her husband was a Captain. Rose Marie was a devout Catholic. As a long-time parishioner of St. Mary of the Annunciation, she seldom missed Mass and often went several times a week. She was an active member of the Lady's Altar Society. Her family's devotion to the Catholic Church was very deep, so much so that they helped build the very first Catholic Church in Summerton across from their family home on Cantey Street, St. Mary Our Lady of Hope. The church recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. She was a devoted grandmother and loved dearly her grandkids with all of her heart, and it showed. "Mimi" loved to "spoil" her grandkids every opportunity she could and they will greatly miss her hugs, kisses and affection, especially on their family trips to the mountains. She was a fantastic cook and not only loved to cook but also enjoyed collecting and reading cookbooks. She rarely went on a trip without bringing back several local cookbooks. Her love of cookbooks was rivaled only by her love of Christmas ornaments, which her kids learned to love after a visit to every Christmas store in the Southeast. She loved to entertain and anyone who was invited for one of her meals or parties was in for a special treat. Her attention to detail, both large and small, was evident and always the subject of conversation. A kind soul, she never wanted anyone to feel alone on the holidays, so dinners were always sure to include a few guests who, otherwise, would have had to celebrate by themselves. She is survived by her loving husband G. Thomas Finnegan of Charleston and her two children and 5 grandchildren: Tom Finnegan (Ashley) of Charleston and their children Thomas, William and Amelia; and Stephanie Finnegan Shackelford (Jack) and their children Emaline and John. The family wishes to express their appreciation to Patrice Scott and Martha Grant for their love and tender care Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary's Restoration Fund, 89 Hasell Street, Charleston, SC 29401.