Rosemary Phillips

ROSEMARY M. PHILLIPS (nee Molinaro) age 92, beloved wife of the late Kenneth for 67 years; loving mother of Kenneth, MD (wife Lee), Bruce (wife Sharon), Kathleen Indiano Schmidt (husband Norman Schmidt and the late Vincent Indiano), and the late Michael (Wife Mary); devoted grandmother of Jonathan, Elisabeth Scheaf (husband Dan), Carrie, Ryan, Micaela Patterson (husband Blake), Marissa (husband Braden) Leschber, Jessica Levy (husband Rob), Lindsay Quigley (husband BJ), Daniel (wife Paige), Brooke Wright (husband Roman), Vincent Indiano, Kenny Indiano, USAF (wife Chelsea), Lukas Schmidt (wife Mary) and great-grandmother of Averie and Benjamin, Bryn, Colton, Margaret and Miriam; cherished daughter of the late Guy and Nora Molinaro; dearest sister of the late Sammy Miller; dear aunt and great-aunt of many.

Kenneth LeRoy Phillips was born in 1933 to Clyde and Ethel Kish Phillips. He was the younger of two sons, and with his older brother Leonard was raised largely in Willoughby, east of Cleveland. He was heavily influenced by his parent's engagement in the First Assembly of God Church as family life revolved around church activities including band and choir, sports, kids' clubs, extended family and close friends. As a boy he played baseball, always rooting for the Cleveland Indians. Later it was fast pitch softball where Ken was a left-handed catcher. 

His Father Clyde Orville was an adventurer who in addition to his work as a machinist at Thompson Products built and flew a 2-seater airplane cross country for years. He also fixed cars at home teaching his sons how to hold a wrench. Clyde liked speed. He taught young Kenny to work hard with his hands, his heart and his head. Several of the Phillips' relatives were pastors and pioneering foreign missionaries, setting a spiritual legacy that Ken embraced. 

His Mother Ethel Kish was part of an extended Hungarian immigrant family. She played violin and partnered with Clyde in competitive couple's roller skating. She fancied fine European furniture, and drank tea imported from China. Unexpected health problems colored decades of her adult life and young Kenny responded with a caring and serving heart, always asking "how can I help?"

Ken was born during the depression and lived his schoolboy years in the shadow of World War 2. In 1948 the INDIANS won the World Series. Post war the family rode the national waves of optimism and industry, with hard work, and new technologies everywhere. America was on the move. Cars for everyone. Pentecostal Christianity fueled their enthusiasm. They were hopeful and built better and better lives. During high school Ken's church youth group joined for cross town activities with others like the "Italian Church". There he met Rosemary, a cute clarinet player from Collinwood High. 

Rosemary Molinaro Phillips was the only child born to Nora and Guido. She was raised in Little Washington, Pennsylvania in a small house next to the train tracks, until the family moved to Collinwood, Ohio. Her growing up years were seasoned by Italian immigrant life, as her parents had countless siblings. Everyone seemed to be their cousin. Many settled in New Jersey taking up race cars and construction. Some worked in factories in Pittsburgh and Cleveland. Rosemary was a smart and watchful child. At age 12 she and her mother were influenced by the elder Colavecchio grandparents to consider attending the "Italian Church". That move forever changed her life.

Her Mother Nora Molinaro was the youngest of 16 children, 13 of whom survived. She seemed to have relatives everywhere. Nora met Guy (Guido) when she was helping him and his brothers paste labels on bottles of homemade Italian wine. The authorities never knew. She lived in Collinwood with Guy, her aging mother, brother Mickey, and other family while Rosemary had her first child and the marriage to Ken was young. Later, Grandma Nora worked for years cleaning schools in Collinwood. I can still remember her hands. And her prayers. There were no matching glasses in her kitchen. Each one had its own story. 

Her Father Guido "Guy" Molinaro can be found online in the record book from Ellis Island, where at age 12 he followed his brothers from Calabria, Italia to the new world. He loved fast cars with big trunks. For fun he would spend the afternoon driving new cars and haggling with car salesmen, then go home for dinner. He would spend much of the day cooking and had a big heart and an easy laugh. He took care of others, especially his brothers when they got into trouble. Later in life he and Nora lived in Eastlake with Rosemary, Ken, and their young kids. He would leave coins on the floor of his bedroom for any grandchild who found them. He died too young, peacefully, in his beloved Chevy. 

Rosemary loved each of her parents and as an only child held them close. They were practical people who took care of each other and their many relatives. She made them proud as she excelled in school, played in the marching band, and wore stylish saddle shoes. After high school she married Ken. She chose secretarial school and worked right away. She colorized black and white photographs and had an artistic eye. She wanted a better life for her family and was willing to work for it. 

Rosemary and Ken were married at the First Assembly of God church where Don Zimmerman the pastor and future head of the denomination presided. They sang in the REVIVALTIME CHOIR on Sunday evening radio with friend and mentor Walter Motter. Within two years Rose was pregnant, and Ken was off to the military, where he spent 16 months in EUROPE with the US ARMY Band. Love letters and black and white photos flew, especially after "little Kenny" was born. Ken met his son when he finally came home 9 months after his birth. Rosemary used a military picture to train the child to say "daddy". 

Ken's long career at the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company saw him rise from shift-working broom sweeper to the Director of Safety. Having a second job seemed routine. When the kids were old enough Rosemary became a decades-long secretary to the local middle school principal. An Italian. Ken forever played softball, fixed cars, directed Royal Rangers youth programs, and played his beloved tuba at church. In retirement he fished and flew model airplanes. Mom cooked and loved and loved and cooked. She inspected your work before and after school. The whole family played musical instruments at school and church. Ball games played on the transistor radio in the garage. The Indians never won another World Series. But loving son Michael gifted dad and mom with season tickets at the new Jacobs field, and for almost 20 years they went to any ball game they wanted. Dad bought peanuts, salted. 

Over the course of their 67-year marriage Ken and Rosemary raised 4 kids, Ken, Michael, Bruce and Kathy, and stayed faithful to their earliest values - "God first, then family, then education, and hard work". Their 4 kids, 12 grandchildren, and now 6 great grandchildren reap the fruit of those values. They made lifelong friends. If one could think of a church program, ministry or school activity, they "always helped" and at some point, were probably in charge. For God's glory they touched their community and the world. 

We are forever grateful. 

A Private Graveside Service will be held at Western Reserve Memorial Gardens Cemetery. A Memorial Service Celebrating Rosemary and Kenneth will be held Saturday, June 21, 2025, at Word of Grace Church, 9021 Mayfield Rd, Chesterland, OH 44026, at 11AM. Arrangements by THE DeJOHN FUNERAL HOME & CELEBRATIONS CENTER OF CHESTERLAND.