Rosemary Mendzela, 81, passed away on Dec. 13, 2020, at Adventist Healthcare, White Oak Medical Center. She was born Sept. 27, 1939, in Kingwood, to Oscar and Gertrude Greaser Griffith.
She married “Mack” June 27, 1964, who preceded her in death June 28, 2014.
Rosemary was an outgoing, flamboyant, loving and independent woman who was adored by many. She made new friends wherever she was. After tragically losing her father when she was 15, Rosemary moved to Washington D.C. at 17. She was recruited her senior year of high school (because of her impeccable typing skills) with other young women from around the country. She lived in a hostel run by nuns and worked for the CIA on Capital Hill until she married Mack in 1964. She changed jobs around that time and worked closer to home in Silver Spring.
Rosemary was an expert ballroom dancer and met the love of her life, Mack, at a dance. She would fondly tell the story of him laying eyes on her and telling his friend, “I’m gonna marry that girl.” They dated for several years and married. If you were ever with them at any event with music they would be dancing together. People stopped dancing just to watch them; they were mesmerizing.
They welcomed their one and only son, Eric, into the world Nov. 13,1966. She would tell us this was one of the best days of her life. According to Rosemary, being a mom to Eric was her number one accomplishment. She was a lover of books, and read and studied numerous books on parenting.
After having Eric, being a homemaker and mom was her most beloved job. She welcomed all of Eric’s friends into their home and treated them as if they were her own. She will be missed. Rosemary was a friend to many. Rosemary never missed an opportunity to boast about her family and her beloved grandchildren.
She was wife of the late Marion “Mack” Mendzela for 50 years; mother of Eric Joseph (Amy) Mendzela; grandmother of Taylor Leigh (Dylan) Fox, Avery Joseph (Shannon) Mendzela and Paige Ashby Mendzela; and great-grandmother of Sloane Olivia Fox; sister of John (Terri) Griffith, Helen Clingerman and Rick (Patricia “Pat”) Griffith. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews and godchildren.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Rosemary Mendzela, please visit https://www.borgwardtfuneralhome.com/obituary/Rosemary-Mendzela/sympathy.
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