Rosemary (Mann) Wilson-Weiss passed away peacefully on February 16, 2024, after a long illness. In her last days, she was surrounded by family and friends, a testament to the life she spent caring for others. Rosemary was born in Columbus, Georgia on April 12, 1939, to Virginia (Bussey) and William Mann. She told wonderful stories about fishing with her father and her mother’s beauty shop. She married Emory Wilson in October 1955 and moved to Granite City, Illinois a few years later, but in her heart, Georgia was always home. She had five children, and she devoted herself to raising them, and to her church family at Calvary Baptist in Granite City and later Maryville Baptist in Maryville, Illinois. She was a surrogate mother to every child in the neighborhood and at church, and later, simply “Nana” to her many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and each and every one of their friends and spouses.
As her children grew up, she embarked on successful careers selling Avon and real estate. She was woman who could always be counted on when needed, a devoted Christian who cared for the sick and the poor. She was a dynamo, a social butterfly, and most of all, a woman whose support and unconditional love made the world a safer, better place for her friends, children, grandchildren, and everyone she ever met.
In addition to her beloved husband of 55 years, Emory Wilson; her second husband William Weiss and her parents, she was preceded in death by her children Emory Wilson Jr. and MaryEmily (Wilson) Slate; her grandson Robert Wilson Jr.; brothers James Frederick (Tina) Mann and William (Elaine) Mann and sister Virginia (Joseph) Stadnick. She is survived by her children Carolyn (Bill) Janssen, Robert (Linda) Wilson, and Eric (Cheryl) Wilson; 14 grandchildren Erin (Mark) Salfen, Nathan (Francine) Slate, Ryan (Gina) Niebur, Chris (Meaghen) Slate, Lauren (Mark) Schaefer, Becca (Steve Hartnett) Slate, Heather (Cody) Sassman, Gerica (Dan) Bean, Stephen Inchingolo, Austin (Xena Chavez) Wilson, Leah (Nathan) Goodsell, Samantha (Seth Yoswig) Thompson, Mallarie (Derek) Williamson and Tess Wilson; 15 great grandchildren Nathaniel, Amyiah, Anna, McKenzie, Landon, Brooklyn, Jonathan, Georgiana, Emerson, Everett, Jameson, Callum, Luella, Gia and Mason; 1 great-great granddaughter Aspen; her adored maltese Rascal; many nieces; nephews; other extended family and friends.
In celebration of her life, visitation will be held at Irwin Chapel, 591 Glen Crossing Road in Glen Carbon on Monday, February 19, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. until time of a memorial service at 6:00 p.m. with Reverend Dr. Tom Hufty officiating. A private family burial will be held at the Bussey Family Cemetery in Talbotton, Georgia at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family recommends donations to Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, St. Jude Children’s Hospital or to the 1p36Deletion support and awareness and may be accepted at the funeral chapel.
