Rosemary Lancaster O'Daniel  

Rosemary Lancaster O'Daniel, 74, was called to heaven on Friday August 22, 2014, after a long illness. She entered the world in Evansville, Indiana on February 18, 1940 to the delight of proud parents Miles Nicholas Lancaster and Mary Ruth Settles Lancaster.

She was the second of five children. Her siblings were Miles Patrick Lancaster, Michael Lancaster, Pamela Ruth Lancaster and Stephen Lancaster.

Rosemary's love of life and caring was demonstrated by her love and devotion to her Down's syndrome sister, Pam.

In September, 1954, at the age of 14, she met her future husband, D. Patrick O'Daniel, then 16, on a Reitz Memorial train trip to Indianapolis where Memorial would play Cathedral High School in football. After attending Barat College in Lake Forest, Illinois, she married Darwin Patrick O'Daniel on September 5,1959, at St. Benedict's Catholic Church.

Rosemary was employed at Lancaster Insurance Agency and later at D-Patrick Automobile Dealerships as an event planner and television spokesperson.

Rosemary's energy and enthusiasm earned her the love and respect of many friends.

The following are some of her many activities. She served and was very active on the boards of Jaycee Wives, St Mary's Hospital, Harper School PTA, Junior League of Evansville, Operation City Beautiful and Evansville Museum, where she was also an energetic docent. She was president of the Harper School PTA and of the Evansville Museum when the museum built the Old National Art Gallery addition. She was an active member of the Evansville Philharmonic Organization when they had concerts at the Coliseum. She held fundraisers for many nonprofit organizations including the Reitz Home Museum, St. Anthony's Catholic Church and for the University of Evansville. In 2007, she received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Southern Indiana. She was Chairman of the first BMW DRIVE FOR THE CURE and involved in the first Susan G. Komen "Race for the Cure" in Evansville as Chairman of "In the Pink". She taught Catholic CCD classes. She was a member of the Weed and Seed Garden Club in Evansville and the Big Arts Great Books Club in Sanibel, Florida. She was the "o" member of MOKAZ, the famous birthday group.

Rosemary earned a Private Pilots license, learned to sail and race sailboats, and won the 2002 9 hole golf tournament at the Evansville Country Club, She ran for City Council at large, played tennis, water skied, snow skied, traveled around the world twice, visited every state in the union.

All this while having five children: Mary Ellen Farabaugh (Ray), Sean Patrick O'Daniel, Mary Patricia Samila (Mark), Michael Joseph O'Daniel (Elizabeth "Missy"), Erin Nicholas O'Daniel (Lynda).

She is now survived by 12 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Pat and Rosemary are members of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Evansville Indiana and St. Isabel's Catholic Church in Sanibel, Florida.

Rosemary was predeceased by her parents, Miles Nicholas Lancaster and Mary Ruth Settles Lancaster, her sister, Pamela Ruth Lancaster; brother, Stephen Nicholas Lancaster and grandson, Nicholas O'Daniel.

Visitation will be from 2:00 - 8:00 Sunday August 24, 2014 at Ziemer Funeral Home East Chapel, 800 S. Hebron Ave., Evansville, IN 47714 with a memorial service at 7:00 pm. Visitation will continue from 9:30 - 10:00 am Monday at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 1301 S Green River Rd., Evansville, IN 47715.

A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:00 am Monday August 25, 2014 at the church with Fr. Joseph Ziliak officiating.

Entombment will be at St. Joseph Mausoleum.

Memorial contributions may be made to a favorite charity .

Condolences may be made online at www. ziemerfuneralhome. com - Courier Press on Aug. 23, 2014

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Rosemary O'Daniel believed making Evansville a better place was obligation, honor
By Carol Wersich Courier Press on Aug. 22, 2014

Rosemary O’Daniel was hard pressed to find a person who loved Evansville more than she did.

She was nearly always busy showing her love for the city by helping lead one community project after another in former years. Raising five of her and her husband Patrick’s five children — including four of whom were born within five years — didn’t slow her down much, either.

“Mom believed helping make the community a better place to live wasn’t just an obligation; it was an honor,” recalled her son, Mike O’Daniel, co-president of D-Patrick Inc. with Raymond L. Farabaugh.

Rosemary O’Daniel, 74, died early Friday morning after a lengthy illness.

All of her now grown children live in the Evansville area.

“Mom believed when it comes to raising a family, it is very difficult to beat Evansville’s values, cost of living and extracurricular programs,” Mike O’Daniel said. “We all agreed with her. It’s not because of our business (auto dealerships) being here that we’re here. We love the city,” he said.

“Mom was primarily concerned about Evansville being a beautiful place with educational and health care opportunities ... She inspired others to become active as well.”

Friends and people who worked with O’Daniel on community projects were also remembering her on Friday.

“Anyone who was lucky enough to have Rosemary’s support was blessed” said Kalah Georgette-Vowels, former president of Operation City Beautiful (now Keep Evansville Beautiful). “She always did what she said she was going to do ... When some people doubted something could be done, she remained positive. She’d say, ‘We can do that.’’

Rosemary lit up a room with her smile and bubbly and beautiful personality,” Georgette-Vowels said. “I’ve tried to picture her without a smile and couldn’t.”

“When I think of Rosemary, one word comes to mind: Energy!” said John Streetman, director emeritus of the Evansville Museum. “She was as vivacious, proactive and positive leader as any leader.

“More personally, she was not only my mentor but also my friend,” Streetman said. “Rosemary was always endlessly kind and so full of joy. “Her positive thoughts buoyed everyone around her.

Mary Ellen Farabaugh, Rosemary O’Daniel’s daughter, said, “Mom had a lot of energy. Evansville, Indiana, was her favorite city in the world. She loved supporting the arts, especially the Evansville Museum and the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra.”

Sherrianne Standley, a retired University of Southern Indiana official, recalled, “Rosemary was such an inspiration in everything she did. She was articulate, vivacious and had that sparkle in her eye and get-up-and-go about her that motivated people.

“She used to do automobile commercials for her family’s car dealerships, and I can still see her striding across the car lots, telling about the great cars they offered.

“She set a standard for that, too.”

Patrick O’Daniel, chairman of D-Patrick Inc. and president of O’Daniel Ranes Enterprises, said his wife was proud of an honorary doctorate law degree, which she received from the University of Southern Indiana in 2007, and of her past involvement with the Harper School PTA and many other organizations.

She was the first chairwoman of D-Patrick’s BMW Drive for the Cure, which helped bring the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure to Evansville.