Rose Mary Pendergast

Rose Mary Fuhrmeister Pendergast, matriarch of the Fuhrmeister-Brender- Pendergast clan, died at home in Kingston, Wash., March 28, 2015, after living a long, active, purposeful life. Born in 1918 in Johnson County, Iowa, she married the love of her life, Jack Pendergast in 1946. He died too young in 1981.

Rose Mary graduated from University High School in Iowa City, Iowa, at the age of 16. She attended business school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and went on to a long career as a bookkeeper and office manager. She retired at 65, after working several years for the Bloomington Glass Company of Bloomington, Ill. The traits that served her so well in life: punctuality, integrity, and a finely honed sense of humor, made her a valued employee and friend to those she worked with and for. After retiring, she moved to Seattle for the next great adventure of her life.

Rose Mary was a longtime volunteer at the Pike Place Market, making friends in the information booth and leading tours. She was an avid reader and proud card-carrying library supporter her entire life. Rose Mary loved to bike (which she continued to do until she was nearly 80) and walk - logging countless miles around Magnolia and Queen Anne well into her 90s. She was a liberal Lutheran, joyfully volunteering at the many programs supported by Gethsemane Lutheran Church in downtown Seattle.

She is survived by daughters Martha Pendergast (Terry Campbell) of Hansville, Wash., and Rose Pendergast (Bill Brown) of Montesano, Wash.; granddaughter Margo Smith (George Smith III) of Calhoun, La.; many nieces and nephews; and innumerable devoted friends. She was especially proud of her great grandchildren: Hannah and Buddy Smith.

Heartfelt thanks to her very special caregivers in Seattle and Kingston, you know who you are. A celebration of life, followed by a social gathering, will be held Sunday, April 26 at noon at Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 911 Stewart Street, Seattle. She and Jack said, "No flowers, please. Feed the hungry instead." Donations may be sent to Compass Housing Alliance, Lutheran World Relief, or your local food bank.