Rosa Lea Beaumont was born on May 7, 1932 in Olney, Illinois to Jack and Lottie Beaumont.

She graduated East Richland High School in 1950. Rosa Lea married John Howard Jr. from West Salem, Illinois on June 10, 1951. John and Rosa Lea shared just shy of 59 beautiful years together before John passed away on February 7, 2010.

John and Rosie had 5 children; Michael John, Jimmy Dennis, David Patrick, Patricia Lea and Jill Lynn. Rosie’s beloved Jimmy passed away in 1962 of Leukemia at the age of 5.  Rosa Lea and John raised their 4 children in West Salem until they ventured out into the world on their own.

Rosa was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2013. She and her son David then moved to Robinson, Illinois to be close to daughter, Tricia. As her Alzheimer’s progressed, she moved to a nursing facility in Robinson in 2022, then in June 2023 she was transferred to Willow Manor Alzheimer’s unit in Vincennes, Indiana.

It was at Willow Manor, just down the road from daughter, Jill, that Rosa Lea passed away on July 7, 2023.

Rosa Lea was the most genuine, sweet, funny, loyal, honest and loving person, we will miss her dearly. She enjoyed a long and happily fulfilling life.

Information provided by Patricia Howard Hose, Rosa Lea’s daughter