Rosemary Parks

Rosemary Evelyn Parks passed away on June 17, 2025 at age 95. Rosemary was born in San Antonio, Texas on May 3, 1930. She was the only child of George Marin and Evelyn De LaPena. She grew up in a multi-generational household with her grandparents, aunt, uncle, mother and cousin. She learned to drive when she was thirteen and talked about having to sit on a pile of phone books to reach the sterling wheel. Rosemary graduated from Saint Mary’s Academy, which was an all girls Catholic High School, where she played a drum in the marching band. During her high school years, Rosemary and her girl friends went to many USO dances. She loved dressing up in formals with color coordinated shoes and handbags and dancing. In 1948, at a USO dance she met her husband-to-be, Jim Parks. They married in 1949 in San Antonio, Texas. Rosemary worked in a shoe store and Jim worked at Sears. During the work week, they would meet for lunch in Travis Park and eat meatloaf sandwiches. Jim made a meatloaf every Sunday for the sandwiches because Rosemary, in those days, didn’t know how to cook.

In 1952, their daughter Jamie was born. Six months later, the family moved to Jim’s hometown, Wolcott, Indiana. Rosemary quickly realized she was in a different world because no one knew about tortillas, avocados, tacos or enchiladas. Fortunately, Rosemary loved interacting with people and quickly made friends. She loved furnishing her home with antiques from farm auctions. She bought a round dining table, which is still used today, for $1 and Jim had to tie it on top of the car to get it home. In 1956, their daughter Julie was born. Ever social, Rosemary initiated the creation of a Psi Iota Xi Chapter in the 1950s. The sorority Christmas Party she hosted was famous because all the husbands dressed up as a Santa Claus and crashed the party, entering one at a time through the fireplace wood box. Of course, this charade was instigated by Jim, who loved to have a good time.

In 1963, the Parks family moved to Zionsville, Indiana. Rosemary became a “Welcome Wagon” consultant, a job that was right up her alley, as it involved talking with people and helping them adapt to their new community. Later, she became a small appliance demonstrator, taking the bus to Blocks and Ayres in Indianapolis-once again, letting her “people person” skills shine. In 1970, Rosemary opened “Sycamore Shoppe for Pets and People” in downtown Zionsville, where she sold pet supplies for the fur babies and offered “armchair psychology” for their owners. Her customers would keep driving around the block until a parking space opened up in front of the shop. Many would sit in a chair beside her counter and “chat” while she totaled their purchase. Her shop was a favorite for generations of Zionsville kids, who would frequently come to play with the hamsters and watch the fish. She thoroughly enjoyed being a Zionsville merchant for the 20 years that she owned/operated her store. During that time, Jim was in the Shrine Horse Patrol and Rosemary was a member of the Shrine Guild, moving through the ranks to Worthy Matron.

Rosemary didn’t skip a beat in her connections with friends when she retired. During her last 30 years, she spent countless hours at the Zionsville American Legion playing a variety of card games. She also played bridge and euchre all over Zionsville in the homes of friends that shared her passion. She delighted in being the hostess when it was her turn for the “group” to come to her house. Having lunch every other Friday with the “Lunch Bunch” and her “Saturday Lunch Group” was something she always looked forward to attending,

Rosemary is survived by her daughters Jamie Neese (Mike), and Julie Shull (Dan), grandchildren Stephanie Crane (Luke), Branden Neese, Jenny Neese, Derek White (Whitney) and great-grandchildren Zander Jay and Phoenix Rose Adamson. She was preceded in death by her husband of 39 years, Jim Parks.

Rosemary will be greatly missed by all that knew and loved her. Family and friends were paramount to her, and she so appreciated being able to celebrate her 95th birthday with many of them this past May.

Her funeral will be Sunday, June 22, 2025, with visitation from 1:00-3:00 pm, followed by “Celebration of Life” from 3:00-4:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, her family requests that memorial donations be made to the Zionsville American Legion, PO Box 332, Zionsville, IN 46077.