Rosemary Postai — a gifted artist, beloved mother and a dear friend — passed at 6:24 p.m. July 29, 2010 at her home that she had so beautifully decorated, tended by those she loved and comforted by her cats that were so much a part of her life.
Rosemary was born January 18, 1929 in Pittsburg to Alta Faye and William R. McCluskey. She attended Forest Park Elementary School, Roosevelt Junior High and Pittsburg High School. She received her Bachelor in Fine Arts and a Masters of Art from Pittsburg State University where she was recognized for her accomplishments in wearable art. She and Tim Towner founded RoseTown Originals and produced unique clothing pieces that are treasured today.
She worked with vintage materials and was known for her one-of-a-kind angels and hearts that were featured at Hall’s in Kansas City and, later, on the Remember Me Tree that raised funds for hospice and home health services for those who couldn’t afford them. She continued to create and display her work throughout her life and four years ago “Art for Heart’s Sake” was featured at the Memorial Auditorium Gallery.
She was an activity therapist at Mt. Carmel Medical Center for many years and was founder and coordinator of LifeTime — a respite program for those with Alzheimer’s. She also worked at Little’s where she loved helping women select outfits that reflected their personalities. Rosemary always put herself into what she wore and her artistic abilities were reflected in her appearance — she had an amazing ability to combine colors and clothing. Even though she struggled with her health in her later years, she always looked beautiful and classy.
She married Louis J. Postai in 1951 and they had one daughter, Krista K. Postai, who survives at the home at 517 W. Forest. Rosemary was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church and while her daughter was growing up, she was very active in St. Mary’s School activities serving as a Brownie and Girl Scout leader and was a member of the Home and School Association. She enjoyed playing cards, dancing, collecting antiques, shopping and spending time with her family, especially her granddaughters and her great-grandson. She made sure every holiday was special with an abundance of gifts that she so loved giving.
She loved to garden and her plants flourished under her care. When she was no longer able to work in the yard, her family would plant her garden on Mother’s Day which pleased her immensely. She also loved to entertain and helped many with their special events including the Mount Carmel Foundation Gala. Her eye for detail and design set a standard that very few could equal.
