Rose Mary (O'Connell) Kunze

Rose Mary (O’Connell) Kunze, 91, of Ridgefield, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family September 6, 2021. She was the loving wife for 66 years of the late Jack Everett Kunze.

Rose Mary was born February 4, 1930 in Endicott, NY, the daughter of the late James B. and Agnes G. (Brown) O’Connell.

She attended Bowling Green College before marrying Jack on February 16, 1952. She would later return to school to earn a BA from Western CT State College. Her various occupations included: Switchboard operator (working to put herself through Bowling Green), homemaker, and realtor.

Rose Mary and Jack made their homes in various locales, courtesy of Jack’s employment first in the US Navy and then with IBM, while raising a growing family of six children. They ultimately settled in Ridgefield in 1967. Her main interests centered around family: as a volunteer in her children’s activities, Girl Scout troop leader, chaperone, “chauffeur”, and hosting many large family gatherings and celebrations. She enjoyed flower gardening, crossword puzzles, “Jeopardy”, and in later years was an avid traveler with her husband. She was an active member of St Mary’s Church of Ridgefield, was a graduate of the Education Parish Service program, taught for many years in the RCIA program, and was involved in Bible Study. She was a daily communicant.

She is survived by her six children: Kristopher Kunze and his partner, Becky Jakobsen; Maureen Austen and her husband, Robert; Kathleen Kunze; Mary Ann Gleba and her husband, Jim; Marj Cutler and her husband Norman Sr.; and Jeanette Gauspohl and her husband, Bob. Rose Mary is also survived by eight grandchildren: Garrett, Evan, and Conrad Austen (wife Karolline); Norman Jr. and Warren Cutler, and Marni Cutler Vining (husband Jaime); and Samuel and William Gauspohl (wife Evelyn).

The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to RVNA Hospice and their staff for their caring and professional support.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, September 14, 2021 at 1:30 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Seton Church; 520 Ridgebury Road, Ridgefield. Interment will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Ridgefield. Friends will be received on Monday, September 13, 2021 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Kane Funeral Home; 25 Catoonah Street., Ridgefield.

Memorial contributions can be made to St. Mary’s Church, Ridgefield CT, St. Joseph Parenting Center, Stamford CT http://www.sjpcenter.org, or the Ridgefield Visiting Nurses Association.

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