Rosemarie Shew
Rosemarie Shew, 68, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. She died of advanced, early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. At the time of her passing, she was a North Woods Village resident in Fort Wayne.
Rosie was born to Floyd and Phyllis (Huber) Hildebrand in Connersville, March 20, 1952. The third of five children, she grew up in Connersville, graduating from Connersville High School in 1970. Although awarded an academic scholarship for university studies, Rosie chose instead to devote herself to her family. She married shortly after graduation and, later that year, gave birth to her first son. A few years later, her second son was born. As she raised her boys, Rosie would manage a busy household with selfless devotion as well as pursue a degree in accounting. Her presence was quiet but steadfast, her nature-loving and patient. Always a source of encouragement, she would awaken her sons each morning to a soft ‘time to rise and shine…’
In 1989, Rosie remarried, encountering love that never left her side. She and her husband, Jon A. Shew were inseparable, spending nearly every minute of the next three decades together. They worked and played together. They shared in life’s celebrations and its sorrows. Through this marriage, Rosie also inherited three more sons, two daughters, many grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.
Rosie’s life was filled with joy. She delighted in her family, especially relishing the role of Grandma. She was unwavering in her faith and enjoyed singing from the pews. Rosie and Jon took pleasure in traveling, and Hawaii was a favorite destination to which they returned many times. These trips were filled with special moments – volcano tours, whale watching, ziplining, walking the beach, and watching the sunset. Rosie and Jon’s time together remained even as her illness progressed, with Jon attentive to every last detail of her care. Rosie developed an affinity for butterfly shrimp and frosty treats, which Jon would bring to her even in the last days.
Among kindness, humility, and intelligence, there are numerous things for which Rosie will be remembered. But no one will forget Rosie’s smile. The radiance of her face matched the warmth and gentleness of her heart. Even as her condition advanced, new acquaintances remarked over how she smiled and hugged without reserve. Time will never erase the memory of Rosie’s smile, nor the joy it brought to others. She will be missed dearly, remembered fondly, and loved eternally.
Survivors include her husband, Jon Shew of Columbia City; her mother, Phyllis Hildebrand of Connersville; two children, Steve (Steffany) Hobby of LaPorte; James (Margaret Baum) Hobby of St. Louis, Mo.; five stepchildren, Jon (Christy) Shew II of Columbia City; Richard (Jenny) Shew of Columbia City; Kimberly (Dale) Haggard of Orange City, Fla.; Brian (Megan) Shew of Columbia City; and Bree Shew of Churubusco; two grandchildren, Montana Hobby of LaPorte; Emma Hobby of South Bend; fourteen step-grandchildren: Kyle (Amanda) Shew, Heather Shew, Scott, and Emily Shew, all of Columbia City; Brandon (Victor) Arguelles of Orlando, Fla.; Brittany (Gage) Casbeer of Orange City, Fla.; Joe Shew, Gary and Hayden Gavin, Sanders Tucker, Branson and Kayla Heidenreich, all of Columbia City; Aydan and Megan O’Brien of Churubusco; one step-great-grandchild, Elena Casbeer of Orange City, Fla.; and two brothers: Jerry (Barb) Hildebrand of Cincinnati, Ohio; and Darryl (Pam) Hildebrand of Connersville.
She was preceded in death by her father Floyd Hildebrand, sister Sue Vogel and brother Randy Hildebrand.
The funeral service is 2 p.m. Saturday at the Grace Lutheran Church, Columbia City. Burial is at the Christian Chapel Cemetery at Merriam. Visitation is from noon until the service Saturday at the church. Arrangements are by Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City.
Memorial gifts are to Alzheimer’s research and awareness c/o the Shew family.