Rosemary Theresa Distel

Rosemary Theresa Distel, 90 of Graytown, OH died Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at Genoa Retirement Village, Genoa, OH. She was born May 18, 1934 in Bono, OH to the late Norman and Laura (DeCant) Cousino. She graduated from Clay High School in 1952 where she had been a band member and a candidate for the homecoming court. In the early 1950’s, Rosemary caught the eye of a young fellow parishioner, Jake Distel, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel’s Catholic Church in Bono. After being formally introduced by Jake’s sister Mildred, Jake would go on to become Rosemary’s date to many Clay High School events including the Prom.

Rosemary would become Jake’s number one cheerleader when he played fast pitch softball for many different teams in the Northwest Ohio area. The couple would be married on June 26, 1954 and had three sons: Jake Jr., Dale, and Mike. They would have a total of 3 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. As Rosemary would have said, ”It may not have been a big family, but it was a great family”. Rosemary and Jake would raise a wonderful family, share 70 years of marriage, and remain in Graytown where they shared a great small-town Ohio life surrounded by family and friends.

Rosemary was a wonderful mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Even during a long illness, she displayed the loving compassion and care, warm smile, and infectious laugh that had made her so special in so many people’s lives. Those served as a treasured memory for her family during her illness’s most difficult days.

Rosemary worked as a bookkeeper throughout her professional life; starting at Toledo Trust, working for a long period at Lowe Machine Company, and in her final full-time position at Bob Martin Realty. Later she would work part-time for H&R Block. On the side she kept busy doing tax returns free for family and friends. Rosemary loved numbers.

Rosemary loved dancing and was a tap dancer when she was a young girl. She was a multi-talented musician and was able to play clarinet, saxophone, the organ and could easily pound out a spirited polka on the accordion whenever given a chance. Unfortunately, none of these musical talents were passed along to her three sons. She loved cooking, canning, and baking and was an accomplished seamstress. Rosemary made many of her own clothes, especially the dress suits which she wore during her career as a bookkeeper. She also loved knitting and crocheting and made her family members everything from intricate Afghans to various sweaters, vests and full knitted outfits for the grandchildren.

Rosemary enjoyed genealogy. She and a second cousin, John Vogelpohl, were able to trace back her maternal DeCant roots to the settling of the earliest French trading posts in the region that would become Detroit, MI and later settled in the Maumee Valley (now Oregon and Toledo, OH). The two of them documented it all in keepsake note-books. She was very proud to share with her children on trips to the Toledo Zoo that Peter Navarre, whose cabin sat at the Zoo, was a family ancestor.

She was a life-long parishioner at Our Lady of Mount Carmel and was a devout Catholic. She is survived by her husband, Jake Distel Sr.; sons: Jake Distel, Jr. (Chad Hewitt/Jon Hoffer; deceased in 1996), Dale Distel, and Mike (Cindy) Distel; grand-daughters: Heather (Steve) Snell, Jill Distel; grandson Jeremy Distel, and great-granddaughter Hazel Snell; and sister Joan Barraclough. She was preceded in death by her parents, Norman and Laura Cousino and brother Gerald Cousino.

Visitation will be Thursday from 5-730pm at Crosser & Priesman Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Oak Harbor Chapel where the family will hold Rosary Prayers beginning at 7:30pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:30pm at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, Bono where the family will again receive friends beginning at 11:30am. Burial will be in Union Cemetery, Oak Harbor. Memorial Contributions may be given to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.crosserpriesmanfuneralhome.com

Rosemary was a beloved by the staff of Genoa Retirement Village. She will continue to hold a special place in the hearts of her family and friends and all who were fortunate to have shared a portion of her life.