Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

Rosemary Lafferty Wilcox, dancing her way through life and remarkably robust for most of her 86 years, passed peacefully at Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis, MD on Saturday, February 8, 2025 following a brief illness.

A woman of strong Christian faith, outgoing and gregarious, she never met a stranger.

Born April 6, 1938 in Beckley, WV to the late Dillian B. and Rose Ann Lilly Lafferty, Rosemary was a 1955 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School where as Head Flag Girl she was out in front of the Flying Eagles Marching Band for many parades. She later attended Beckley College where she learned the office skills she was to use so often in life. She also studied dance at any opportunity.

She and her then-husband, Dwight L. Wilcox, raised their children in Long Island, NY and Rockville, MD. 

After her divorce, she spent many years living by the beach in Melbourne Beach, FL followed by many more living in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, before finally settling in Annapolis, MD so she could be more involved in the lives of her three grandsons.

In her long life she held many jobs. The one most meaningful to her was as a volunteer for the AIDS support organization, Project Response of Brevard County FL. The job that was the most enjoyable was as an instructor of Aerobic Dancing, Jazzercise, and Slimnastics in Montgomery County MD for more than 17 years during the 1970’s and 80’s.

She also worked in restaurants and retail, most recently Macy's in Annapolis Mall, where she loved meeting the customers- treating them all as good friends she'd just met. 

As much as she enjoyed dancing and meeting new people and seeing new places, nothing compared to spending time with dogs.  Each of whom she considered to be far superior to people in every way.  She was sure that Her Savior Jesus Christ, having enjoined the faithful to love one another as He has loved them, intended that we model that love on the love and devotion our dogs show to us. 

The Broadway Musical - she would insist on the capitalization - was to Rosemary an art form of endless fascination and joy, a love she passed to her children. 

She is survived by her children, Dwight L. Wilcox, II and his wife, Carla and the Rev. Diana L. Wilcox. Her grandsons, Dwight L. Wilcox, III and his wife, Bridget, Peter B. Wilcox and his wife, Jennifer and Daniel B. Wilcox. She would think us remiss if we also didn’t mention her granddogs, Quimby and Lexi; her grandcats, Katie and Lauren and her great-granddogs, Draper, Lulu, and Bernie.

A memorial service celebrating her life will be held on Saturday, April 5 at 11:00 am at St. Anne's Episcopal Church in Annapolis, MD followed by a reception at the Charles Carroll House. 

In lieu of flowers, her family suggests donations be made to BARCS Animal Shelters or to Christ Episcopal Church in Bloomfield & Glen Ridge, NJ where her daughter is Rector.

Condolences may be made by using the Memories link on this page.



Rosemary Lafferty Wilcox

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