Obituary of Rosemary E. Daley

Rosemary E. Daley of 301 West Henley Street, a former staff writer, columnist and photographer for the Olean Times Herald newspaper for over 20 years, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013 in the Olean General Hospital. Rosemary was born Sep. 16, 1928 in Detroit, MI and was a daughter of Joseph James and Marie Elizabeth Coughlin Daley. Rosemary graduated from Olean High School in 1946 and the West Brook Commercial Academy in 1947. She worked for the Central Intelligence Agency as an administrative assistant for 15 years in Washington D.C., Bonn Germany, and Manila Phillipines. Ms. Daley was a member of the St. Mary of the Angels Church. As a reporter at the Times Herald from 1969 to 1992, Ms. Daley worked primarily in what was then known as the Pennsylvania Bureau covering news events and special features for communities in McKean, Potter, and Cameron Counties, but her interests were not limited to those areas alone. From her many travels and experiences living abroad she possessed unique insights and perspectives on life which she frequently shared in her weekly columns. Her true commitment, however, was to her beloved hometown of Olean. She had a deep devotion and appreciation for Olean and the entire Southern Tier region. Following her retirement from the Times Herald she was invited to resume occasional column writing for the newspaper. Rosemary was passionate about accuracy and historical data. She was an avid reader and strongly believed in the power of the written word. This belief led her to a long-time affiliation with Literacy Volunteers of America from 1970 to 1985. She worked diligently to help the people she tutored learn to read, and served on the board of directors of this organization at the state level. Ms. Daley also volunteered many years with the Meals on Wheels program, both in Olean and in Wilmington, NC, where she lived from late 1993 to mid-1995. She was a volunteer at the Genesis House, serving on the Board of Directors from 1996-2005; was a docent at the Quick Center for the Arts at St. Bonaventure University from 1995-2005; and contributed to Christmas in April (now Rebuilding America) as a food server from 1992 until recently. She also wrote for the Zeal newsletter for the St. Elizabeth Mission Society of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany from 2000-2007. As an original tenant at the Brookside Apartments in 1995, Ms. Daley truly appreciated the program and was a strong advocate for the Brookside Community. Her name for the renter's association - Brookside Neighbors - was adapted since it promoted the idea that the residents belonged to a neighborhood, much the same way residents of a city work to help each other. With this spirit of assisting, Rosemary often drove her Brookside neighbors to do errands, especially on Election Day so they would be able to vote. In 2006, Rosemary was awarded the Good News Senior Award by the Greater Olean Chamber of Commerce at its annual Good News Awards banquet for her volunteer efforts on behalf of senior citizens. Rosemary loved her family, her extended families, and friends and it is not uncommon to hear people whose lives she's touched in some way refer to her as a "class act." For all of the love she gave and her many selfless acts she will always be loved in return and thought of with warm and cherished memories. Rosemary is survived by one brother, T. Joseph (Mary Ann) Daley of Fairport; a sister-in-law, Jane E. Daley pf North Carolina; nieces & nephews, John (Leslie) Daley of Virginia, Ellen M. Daley of Virginia, Timothy J. Daley of North Carolina, Michael (JoAnn) Daley of North Carolina, Charles (Joy) Daley of Portville, Kathleen (Peter) Macon of Rochester, Marie E. Daley of Fairport, and Anita (Michael Shaffer) Daley of Michigan; and a close friend, Mary Ellen Sader of Olean. Rosemary was predeceased by her parents, and two brothers, John J. (Jack) Daley, and James H. Daley. Friends will be received in the Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home, Inc. #646 E. State Street Olean, on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014 from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, Jan. 6, 2014 at 10:00 am in St. Mary of the Angels Church. The Rev. Gregory J. Dobson will celebrate. Burial will be in the St. Bonaventure Cemetery, Allegany, NY. In lieu of flowers memorial may be made to John J. Daley Tennis Scholarship, #3261 West State Road, St. Bonaventure University, St. Bonaventure, New York 14778 or to Genesis House #107 S. Barry Street, Olean or to Meals on Wheels of Cattaraugus County, #1 Leo Moss Drive, Department of the Aging Suite #7160, Olean or to the Olean Public Library 134 N. 2nd Street, Olean. Online condolences may be made by clicking on the button above.