Rosemary Frances Digrazia, Nee Breslin

Rosemary Frances DiGrazia, née Breslin, died on Friday January 19, 2024 at the age of 90. She was born on January 30, 1933, in Canadensis, in the Poconos of Pennsylvania, to the late COL John F. Breslin, M.D. and Hilda Smith Breslin. She was the eldest of the four “sterling” Breslin sisters, and she spent her childhood traveling the world due to her father’s long and distinguished career as an Army physician. As a young woman and throughout her life, Rosemary was artistic and creative, using her dressmaking skills to design beautiful garments, as well as creating pottery and paintings. On July 4, 1953 she met her husband, then LT John E. DiGrazia, at the Officer’s Club picnic at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. They were married six months later in Reno, Nevada, and their marriage lasted more than 68 years. John was the love of Rosemary’s life. She enjoyed being an Army wife and accompanied John on assignments to Sandia Base, New Mexico; Governor’s Island, New York; Herlong, California; the Pentagon,Washington D.C.; and Germany. While John was stationed at Governor’s Island, Rosemary spent many afternoons shopping for beautifully woven, high fashion fabrics in the Garment District. She sewed stylish outfits overlooking the Statue of Liberty from the windows of their Army quarters.

After John retired from the military in 1979, the couple settled in Reno, Nevada, where Rosemary designed their beautiful custom home overlooking the bright lights of downtown Reno and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. She loved gardening, creating many fabulous dinners with the produce of their extensive garden. Rosemary, who was interested in local history, was very active in attempting to preserve the Mapes Hotel, the first skyscraper built after WWII in the western United States and a model for all large scale hotel casinos to follow.  She was a lifelong Republican, interested in local and national politics, and she served as an active Nevada state caucus member for many years. She is predeceased by her beloved husband John (1928-2022) and her sister Margot B. Hastings (1937-2021). She is survived by her sisters Joan B. McDonald of Pennsylvia and Karen B. Fisher of New Jersey, her twelve nieces and nephews and numerous great nieces and great nephews.

A funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 100 Walnut Street, Montoursville, Pennsylvania, on February 3 at 1pm.  Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery, also in Montoursville, in the Breslin family plot. In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions may be made to Casa De Vida,1290 Mill Street, Reno, NV 89502.