Rosemary Jay Schorsch

Rosemary Jay Schorsch, 60, passed away at her Asheville home Tuesday, October 16, 2018, after a brief battle with cancer. Although she had only lived in Asheville for a year and a half, Rosemary quickly assimilated to her new home. She loved taking long walks along the river and enjoyed exploring the River Arts district, attending concerts at the Biltmore Estate, and adventuring in the Blue Ridge mountains. A special highlight was watching the solar eclipse last summer with family on a boat on Lake Jocassee. She made many new friends, including a circle of fellow employees at the Northwestern Mutual district office, where she worked for six months before she had to focus all her time on cancer treatment. Born in Spring Valley, IL, and raised in Washburn, IL, Rosemary was a daughter of Dr. Victor V. Jay, and of the late Anne Jay. After graduating from Sacred Heart Academy and Western Illinois University, she spent most of her adult life in Chicago before moving to Asheville in April 2017. Rosemary loved to travel, especially internationally, and enjoyed experiencing new cultures with her husband of 33 years, Brian R. Schorsch. Together they traveled to England, France, Ireland, Spain and Rosemary’s favorite - Greece and the Greek Islands. Another favorite memory was a trip with her father to his homeland in Lithuania with family members. She collected artwork and mementos in her travels that were beautifully assembled in her Asheville home. Many friends and memories harken back to Rosemary’s time in Chicago, where she spent more than 30 years. She met and married her husband Brian there and enjoyed many things the city had to offer, including concerts, restaurants, walks along Lake Michigan, and nurturing her beautiful backyard garden where she assembled an array of plants and hosted friends and family. Whenever Rosemary was home, she was surrounded by her pets, which she lovingly made her family. In addition to her father and husband, Rosemary is survived by siblings Rita Jay, Michael Jay (Diane), John Jay (Debbie), Anne Marie Jay Lester (Michael), Mark Jay (Karen); and 10 Jay family nieces and nephews. She is also mourned by the extended Schorsch family including Brian’s mother Cora, and his brothers Kurt (Joanne), Glenn (Mary), Gregory, sisters Nancy King (James) and sister Jennifer Oliver, and Betsy, wife of Albert Schorsch (deceased) and their extended families, including several Schorsch family nieces and nephews. Many dear friends include Moira Knowlton and Julie Well. She was a loving godmother to Patrick Jay, Nicholas Lester, Nolan Fenwick, and Kelsey Schorsch. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated by the Rev. Fr. Dean E. Cesa on Saturday, October 20, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 768 Asbury Rd., Candler, NC 28715, followed by a reception in the fellowship hall. A celebration of Rosemary’s life will be held for friends and family in Chicago on April 20, 2019. Flowers are appreciated, or memorials may be made to Brother Wolf, PO Box 8195, Asheville, NC 28803, or to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, www.LLS.org. Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue is assisting the family.