ROSINA ELIZABETH CUNNINGHAM

Sept. 29, 1915 - April 10, 2009

Rosina Cunningham, 93, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, died on Good Friday, April 10, 2009. She passed away peacefully at Odyssey Healthcare of Tucson following a brief illness.

Rosina was born on Sept. 29, 1915, to Edward and Elizabeth Dailey in Dushore, Pa., the fifth of seven children. Her father, Edward Dailey, M.D., was a small town doctor who was often called to the local hospital for consultation on patients with other doctors because of his reputation as an outstanding diagnostician. As a little girl, “Zenie”, often accompanied “Papa” on his rounds in the countryside to visit his patients. Sometimes she was treated to milk and cookies at various homes.

Rosina’s mother was an accomplished seamstress and Rosina followed her lead making most of her clothes as well as her daughter’s right through college.

Rosina earned a B.S. in Home Economics from St. Joseph College, Emmitsburg, Md. in 1936. She did her internship in dietetics at St. Mary Hospital, Detroit, Mich. During that time she met Bill Cunningham who was completing his studies at the University of Detroit School of Dentistry. She and Bill married on May 28, 1938.

Bill practiced dentistry briefly in Jackson and Romeo, Mich. While in Romeo, Bill completed U.S. Army Air Force service during WWII in Charleston, S.C. Upon his discharge in 1946, the family moved to Niles, Mich. where Bill practiced general dentistry until 1970.

Coming from longtime Notre Dame football fan families and living less than 10 miles from the campus, Rosina, Bill and family attended all Notre Dame home games.

Before leaving dentistry, Bill earned an MBA from Michigan State University in 1965. He took a Business Law teaching position at Manchester College in northern Indiana. Next Bill accepted an appointment in the Dental School Of Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tenn. Being a little restless, Bill earned a law degree and even though he became legally blind, graduated third in his class. He and a fellow graduate opened a law practice and for the next five years, he engaged in his latest career.

Finally in 1983, Rosina and Bill retired to Florida. There they enjoyed living on the ocean, walking the beach and sitting in on Martin County courtrooms following interesting jury trials.

Bill died in 1986, and Rosina stayed on in Florida until 2001, when she moved to Pennsylvania to be closer to her children.

In 2006, Rosina moved to Green Valley where her daughter and son-in-law were retiring. She lived happily at Silver Springs Senior Community until her death on April 10, 2009.

Rosina’s whole focus had always been her family. They did most things together - biking, horseback riding, playing bridge, golfing, dancing and cheering on Notre Dame. She was a wonderful mom and grandmother.

Rosina was preceded in death by her husband Bill, who died in Stuart, Fla. Nov. 17, 1986.

She is survived by her son Bill Jr. and his wife Kathy who reside in Raleigh, N.C.; her daughter Betsy and her husband John Buckley who reside in Green Valley; four grandchildren and one great-grandson.

Per her wishes, Rosina’s body was donated to the University of Arizona Medical School.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at a later date in Green Valley.

Rosina is very much missed, but she is now and forever dancing with Bill.