Rosemary Nist Westley

Rosemary Nist Westley, 95, passed away in peace and comfort on November 20, 2009 following a long and fulfilling life highlighted by her service to her family, her community and her country.   Born in Akron, Ohio, the eldest of nine children, she was called upon to forego a high school education so that she could help support the family by working at Ohio Edison Company.   In 1944, she met her husband Bruce while both were on duty in the United States Army in California. After their marriage, Rosemary embarked upon her next challenge, that of raising five baby boomer children.   She always put her family ahead of herself, making countless sacrifices to give her children the best possible education and quality of life.   She was active in Democratic party politics, the League of Women Voters, and numerous church activities.   Despite her lack of formal higher education, she often dazzled her husband's University colleagues with her vast knowledge of culture, politics, music and current events.   She lived in Madison for 20 years before relocating to Lexington, Kentucky in 1969, returning to Madison in 2001 for her final years.   She is survived by four of her children, Richard (Jane) Westley, of Madison, Joan Westley, of Menlo Park, California, David (Barbara) Westley, of Brookline, Massachusetts, and Barbara (Tim) Fister, of St. Peter, Minnesota, and her beloved daughter-in-law, Judy Westley of Ashland, Kentucky, along with eleven grandchildren and four great grandchildren.   She was preceded in death by her parents, three of her four brothers and one of her sisters, along with her husband Bruce in 1990 and her son Paul in 1998.   Memorial services will be held on Saturday, December 12, 2009 at CRESSS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison, Wisconsin.   Visitation will begin at 11:00 A.M., to be followed by a prayer service and remembrance beginning at 12:30 P.M.    Memorial contributions in Rosemary's honor can be made to Segoe Gardens Assisted Living, Hospice Care, Inc. or the Bruce H. Westley Memorial Scholarship Fund at the University of Kentucky.   Rosemary will be buried with her husband and son Paul in Lexington, Kentucky, at a later date.   The family wishes to express its sincere appreciation to the caring staff at Segoe Gardens and the many devoted nurses from Hospice Care, who teamed up to enable her to spend her final days in a home environment.