Rosemary (Doherty) Babcock

Rosemary Doherty Babcock, age 90, of Crystal Lake, IL, died in her home on September 5, 2022, surrounded by family, after a battle with cancer.  Rosemary was born in McHenry, IL on May 29, 1932 to William (Willie) and Matilda (Tillie) Doherty.  She was the 7th of 8 children and spent her childhood on the dairy farm that her parents owned and worked.

She attended 1st grade at Holcombville School, then went to St. Mary / St. Patrick Catholic Grade School in McHenry and graduated from McHenry High School in 1950.  In 1951, she attended Northern Illinois University.  She interrupted her education to work in Chicago from 1951 – 1957 for insurance brokerage firm Johnson & Higgins.  Rosemary returned to NIU in 1986 and completed her Bachelors, Masters and all course work for her PhD in English Literature.  Her essay on Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre was published in 2002.

On May 11, 1957, she married Thomas M. Babcock at St. Patrick Church in McHenry.  They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary prior to his death in 2007.  In 1964, Tom and Rosemary moved into a home they built in Walkup Woods and raised their 4 children in Crystal Lake.

As children, we were given the freedom to be kids.  As we grew up, Mom and Dad encouraged us to be independent and make our own way in the world and we will be forever grateful for that.

Over the course of her life Rosemary volunteered for many organizations.  Some highlights include serving as a board member for the Mental Health Resource League for McHenry County and the American Cancer Society and as president of the St. Thomas School board.  For the past 10 years she volunteered as an in-classroom assistant for the ESL program at McHenry County College.

Rosemary and Tom enjoyed tennis, biking and traveling.  A trip to Ireland was memorable as they visited the town that Rosemary’s Irish ancestors were from.  For many years an annual trip to Martha’s Vineyard became a favorite place to visit and make memories with their children and grandchildren.

Rosemary is survived by her children and their spouses,Nanette (Tom) Gill, Mary Jo Babcock, Melinda (Brian) DeRevere and Tom (Nicole) Babcock and her fabulous grandchildren, Sam & Molly Gill, Haley & Katie DeRevere and Sophia & Ella Rose Babcock.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom, on September 13, 2007; her parents, Willie & Tillie Doherty; and her siblings, James, Robert, Richard, Phillip, William, Bernard and Dorothy (Weingart).

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 13 from 4 pm until 7 pm at Davenport Funeral Home, 419 E Terra Cotta Ave, Crystal Lake, IL.   Mass will be held at 10 am on September 14, at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 451 W. Terra Cotta Ave, Crystal Lake, IL followed by burial at St. Patrick Church Countryside Cemetery in McHenry IL.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Les Turner ALS Foundation .