[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 62 (Friday, April 18, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E662]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE LIFE OF ROSEMARY MARGARET FORAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN B. LARSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 18, 2008

  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Madam Speaker, it is with great pride and 
honor that I submit for the record comments on the life of a great 
citizen of East Hartford, Connecticut.
  Rosemary Margaret Foran passed away on April 5, 2008. She was a 
remarkable lady and the matriarch of an even more remarkable family. 
I've known the Forans all my life. They exemplify everything that is 
rich in the human experience, and they learned that from their mother, 
Rosemary, and their father, Tom.
  The Kennedy family is known for its compound in Hyannisport, 
Massachusetts. Its rival in Connecticut is the Foran compound on 
Goodwin Street. The family Rosemary raised is at the heart of what 
makes the community of East Hartford a great place to live. The truth 
is without the vaunted Foran Legion, the Little League, the school 
system, and town athletics in general would suffer. Rosemary and Tom 
raised a family of nine who gave back to the community more than they 
have ever received. For the first time in their lives the Forans are 
orphans, but the love and devotion of their mother and father live on 
and the Foran Legion continues to grow, and continues to give to our 
hometown of East Hartford in a way that has enriched all of our lives. 
Their oldest son, Tony, wrote this obituary for his brothers and 
sisters, which says it all:

                      [From the Hartford Courant]

       On Saturday evening (April 5, 2008), the day of the ancient 
     Sabbath, Rosemary Margaret (Donlon) Foran (80) fulfilled her 
     baptismal promise, turned her spirit ship to home and leapt 
     to celestial joy. She was born, raised, lived and died in 
     East Hartford. She was the living embodiment of the thought 
     that treasure is measured not in personal wealth but in the 
     warmth of a home.
       In that home and around that round table a family shared 
     the smell of fresh baked bread, the sounds of babies cooing, 
     the laughter of the carefree young with friends, the tears 
     and sorrows of all as the siege that is life went on. She 
     welcomed any and all to the round table, providing sustenance 
     for the body, mind or soul as each one needed. A cup of tea, 
     a bite to eat, an ear to listen or a hand to help, our 
     daunting obstacles shrank around that table. ``Bonitam, et 
     Disciplinian, et Scientian, Doce Me, Domine.'' Life is a 
     home.
       Her nurturing skills were taught to her by her beloved 
     mother and father, Mary Ellen (Berry) and Thomas J. Donlon, 
     Sr. She in turn passed those nurturing skills on to her 
     daughters-in-law, Lynne Masiuk (who predeceased her), June 
     Jaskulka, Nikki Samela, Christine Niziankiewicz, Mary Jo 
     Quinn, Marie Mullaney, Evelyn Owens, Rachel Elder, and Mary 
     Margaret Maleskis, all of whom she loved as her own and who 
     loved her with tenderness as if she was their own mother. 
     Rosemary had many monikers in life, Blondie, Mame, Liz, Big 
     Lou, Bun, Pumpkin, Gramma, but none so dear as Ma.
       Before efficiency became important in the workplace, 
     Rosemary had perfected this skill. With a brood of children 
     that numbered nine, Anthony, Joseph (who predeceased her), 
     Patrick, Stephen, Michael, Thomas, Gregory, Nicholas and her 
     best friend, constant companion and unwavering advocate and 
     caregiver, Mary Ellen, she managed every minute of her daily 
     double shift. Every movement during her day was with purpose 
     and a daily task to complete. The tasks were many for such a 
     large family. And yet, her efficiency allowed for three meals 
     a day for all. Thomas R. Foran, Sr., her sweetheart and 
     husband (who also predeceased her) had lunch at the round 
     table with Rosemary every day of his healthy life. He praised 
     and flattered her with this inscription on a pizza board he 
     made in 1963: ``Charm is deceptive, Beauty fleeting, A good 
     cook lives in a man's memory, From one meal to the next. 
     Love, Tom. El Gourmet.''
       A special blessing came to Rosemary's table in 1998, with 
     the arrival of her new and only son-in-law, C. Gary Knell, 
     with whom she shared her home. Gary's work ethic matched in 
     every way his new mother-in-law's. As Rosemary's health began 
     to fail over the last five years, Gary became a sentry for 
     her every need. Rosemary's earthly remains will be lovingly 
     enclosed in a casket made by her son, Tom, and her son-in-
     law, Gary, wrapping her in the same love which she gave to 
     all of her family.
       The precious jewels of Gramma's life number 25, each and 
     every one of them nurtured at the round table and on her 
     knee: Daniel and his wife Becky, Gregory and his wife Tricia, 
     Stephanie and her husband Eric Barrett, Kathryn and her 
     husband Steve Borla, Michael and his wife Malinda, Matthew, 
     Danielle and her fiance Matthew Currey, Nicholas, Emily, 
     Will, James, Joseph, Rosemary, Mary Ellen, Laura, Annie, 
     Thomas, Katherine, Rebecca, Benjamin, Lynne, Sarah, Patrick, 
     Stephen and Luke. Rosemary's DNA of love also runs in the 
     veins of 6\1/2\ great grandchildren: MaKayla, Dylan, Michael, 
     Matthew, Gavin, Devin and one soon to be born. She was 
     blessed with many nephews and nieces of the Foran and Donlon 
     families.
       Rosemary, born on December 26, 1927, and graduated from 
     Mount Saint Joseph's Academy in 1946, was the youngest of 
     five children: Thomas J. Donlon, Jr. and John P. Donlon 
     predeceased her; her sister Ann Rita Thayer and her brother 
     Joseph G. Donlon will cherish her memory in the deep recess 
     of their hearts. She also leaves beloved brothers-in-law, 
     Nicholas A. Foran, Jr. and his wife, Doris, and John Foran 
     and his wife, Pat, sisters-in-law, Mary ``Bette'' (Meskell) 
     Foran, Mary (Sauve) Foran, Elizabeth (Anderson) Foran, and 
     cousins Richard, Walter and Jack Foran.
       When her children or grandchildren asked Rosemary about 
     what gift she might like for a birthday or Christmas, her 
     answer was always, ``The grace of God and a holy and happy 
     death.'' The Good God answered her prayer on Saturday 
     evening, as she was enveloped in the web of love she created.