Mrs. Rosemary Greenbank (nee Persiani), 93, died on September 17, 2019 in West Orange. Private services were held. Condolences may be left at Proutfuneralhome.com.
Born in Allentown, Pa., Mrs. Greenbank was one of seven children. She graduated from The George Washington University (Class of 1948) in Washington, D.C., with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and art–a woman well ahead of her time. In Arlington, Va., she met her loving husband, Thomas. Their first child, Martha, was born in 1950. Together the family moved to Ohio, where their second child, Abigail, was born in 1954. The Greenbanks moved to Verona in 1960.
Mrs. Greenbank worked for The Blue Ridge Herald, a weekly newspaper in Virginia during the 1950s. Many in Verona will remember her as editor of The Verona-Cedar Grove Times. For 23 years she expertly guided this weekly informative local newspaper until her retirement in 1989.
She was an active member of the First Congregational Church of Verona, serving on the Church Council, Women’s Fellowship Committee, Music & Worship Committee, church Choir and “Bell Rope” (church newsletter) Committee. She was also a member of the Verona-Cedar Grove Chorus and the New Jersey Press Association.
Mrs. Greenbank was an artistic and creative person who had a quiet demeanor and was selfless and devoted as a wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
She was predeceased by her husband, Thomas K. Greenbank and daughter, Abigail Greenbank.
Mrs. Greenbank is survived by her daughter, Martha Sharer and her husband, James Sharer; grandson, Jesse Kolbert and granddaughter, Cory Anne Greenbank Sharer. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and her good friend, Charles Callaway.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the First Congregational Church of Verona, 19 Church Street, Verona, NJ 07044 would be appreciated.
