Rosemary Theresa Lamb

Rosemary Theresa (Kirk) Lamb 

The blessed life of Rosemary begins with Thomas Kirk, an Irish immigrant coming to America as a young man and Leona Degeneffe, a young woman from Wisconsin who had a desire for something more out West, meeting in Los Angeles, California. The two happened to both work for the same wealthy family, she as their cook and he as their gardener. Upon first getting married they lived in a small unit on the grounds of the family they worked for. When Rosemary was first born, not having a crib, Rosemary’s bed was a drawer in the couple’s dresser.  Not long after Rosemary was born the little family moved to their first home in Culver City where Rosemary was joined by her brother Tom.  Some time later, the family purchased a home on 3^rd Avenue in Los Angeles and her youngest brother, Patrick, was born.

Rosemary developed a love of reading as a young child and fondly would tell of her time spent riding the “red cars” of LA to the library to swap out books. She also loved to roller skate as a child and take the red car to the beach. She attended Transfiguration elementary school and Bishop Conaty Memorial High School. Upon graduating she got a job at Security Bank and once 19 years old started attending the USO dances. It was at New Year’s Eve Dance in 1952 that she met a young Marine by the name of Michael Lamb. He wasn’t sitting at the table when she originally sat down with his friends but upon his return from the bar, he quickly noticed her and was determined to speak with her regardless if he was the reason she chose to sit there or not. From that day forward they began dating with Mike hitch hiking from Oceanside into LA on the weekends so that they could go on dates. Nine months later, on September 13, 1952 they were married. The two honeymooned in Laguna Beach and then got their first apartment in Lake Elsinore and anxiously awaited the birth of their first child, Kathy. 

Shortly after Kathy’s birth, Mike was ordered to report to duty during the Korean War and set sail. Meanwhile Rosemary, as a young mother, moved in with her parents with whom she was always very close so that they could assist her with her new baby. Upon Mike’s return nine-months later they looked for housing in LA as Mike did not re-enlist but instead found a job at a metal factory in downtown LA. They found a home just a few short blocks from Rosemary’s parents. After a trial run at living in North Dakota, where Mike was originally from, they returned to California and Mike returned to the steel company.   Shortly thereafter, Ellen arrived followed by Mike, Tom, Tim, Jim, John and Charlie in very quick succession. Mike continued to work at Ducommun Metal at night and Rosemary, once the kids were school-age, worked at Daniel Freeman hospital in the cafeteria which inspired her famous bi-crackie bar recipe.  

Somewhere between Jim and John, Rosemary’s brother Tom met the love of his life. When Rosemary became pregnant with her 9^th child, Louis, Tom and Myrna volunteered to give Mike and Rosemary a weekend off and upon their babysitting and having to wash loads of laundry they quickly discovered that a clothes dryer was an absolute necessity and Tom and Myrna purchased a dryer for the home.  Five years after Louis, Jeremy joined the family which resulted in 10 children (two of them teenage girls by this time) living in a 3 bedroom 1 bath home.  Time to look for more space.   

Out of LA they moved to the astonishment of their children who felt like the eastern edge of LA County may have well been another planet. Rosie was added to the family 3 years after the move east and the Lamb family rounded out with 11 children, one short of Rosemary’s desire for 12 kids. Life on Daisetta street was never the same after the arrival of all the Lamb boys.  

Upon moving to Rowland Heights Rosemary, who had worked for the State Employment Development Department for about 2 years, continued that employment until her first retirement in the early 80’s. In 1987 Rosemary went back to work for Orange County where she was a receptionist for their welfare department working her way to her favorite job of eligibility technician, helping individuals get signed up for public benefits. Rosemary could be found at work early some mornings quietly doing filing for her daughter Ellen, who was a supervisor, before Ellen would arrive at work. No matter if at work or a home, once a mom always a mom.  

And of course upon her final retirement, Rosemary spent her days babysitting, having a role in raising several of her grandchildren. While Rosemary never developed a love of sports which seem to be a common thread among her children, the myth of her curve-ball shoe throwing will live on in the collective family memory. Always quick with a smile or new piece of family gossip, Rosemary had a positive spirit who never let all her emotions show – she would have been a fabulous poker player. She enjoyed playing and teaching card games, you just had to be patient as the rules sometimes were shared as the game was played and came to her memory as she seemed to need a certain move.  Her card playing buddies transitioned from kids and grandkids to her ‘game night’ with the ladies once she and Mike left the busy city and retired in La Quinta for quiet days and nights.

Rosemary was recently asked what she was wanted to do in life when she was young and if she had any regrets, to which she quickly replied that she always wanted to be a mother and had no regrets. Eighty-nine years later there are eleven forever grateful children so blessed to call her mother who will carry her spirit with them always. Thank you, Mom. You are, and always will be, the absolute best.  

Rosemary is preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Michael Lamb, and is celebrated by her 11 children, 29 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren with another due any day, brother Tom and his wife Myrna and two nephews. 

Friends are invited to attend a Mass Of Christian Burial for the repose of her soul, on May 26, 2021 at 11:00 am, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church 47225 Washington Street, La Quinta, Ca 92553, interment will take place on May 27, 2021 at 11:30 am, at Riverside National Cemetery 22495 Van Buren Boulevard, Riverside, CA 92518.

Please send all flowers to St. Francis of Assisi Church, 47225 Washington Street, La Quinta, Ca 92553

If you would like to make a donation to a nonprofit organization supported by Rosemary in lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be considered for Mary’s Mercy Center, a program in San Bernardino that supports women, men and children in need of housing and other supports. Donations in her honor can be sent to:

Mary’s Mercy Center

PO Box 7563

San Bernardino, CA 92411

To learn about Mary’s Mercy Center click here.