Rose (Rosie) Anne Heil Downey Watterson was born on June 27, 1934 on a farm in Guernsey County, Ohio. As a teenager, she grew up in Zanesville, Ohio and graduated from Bishop Rosecrans Catholic High School in 1952.

In 1953 she married Robert Glen Downey and had four children together. Following his death of a brain aneurysm in 1968 at age 37, she remarried twice, most recently to Tom Watterson, who died in 2015. She and Tom enjoyed traveling around the United States in their RV, and internationally.

Rosie was of resilient, sturdy German stock, and sometimes referred to herself as "that stubborn German girl." She had a very strong work ethic. She put a lot of effort into parenting her children, and worked hard at jobs outside the home as a waitress, bank clerk, and for 20 years as a cook in the Reynoldsburg school system. She was also a gifted gardener who received several yard beautification awards from the city of Reynoldsburg.

Rosie died on October 31, 2024, which was very fitting since Halloween was one of her favorite holidays. She loved dressing up as a witch, laughing and cackling while running up and down the street with a broomstick and giving out generous handfuls of candy to neighborhood children.

She was loved and will be missed by many. Rosie is survived by her children, Gregory Glen Downey, Deborah Downey (David Turner), Vickie (Steve McQuistion) and Brenda (Brett Luzader). She is also survived by her grandchildren, Josh, Jeremy and Jacob Blauser, Anthony Luzader and Ashley Dury, and Alex and Will Turner. She had 13 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren and dozens of nieces and nephews.

Calling hours for Rose Anne Watterson will be on Sunday, November 10, 2024 from 6-8 p.m. at Pfeifer-Woodyard Funeral Home, 7915 East Main Street, Reynoldsburg, Ohio. A funeral mass is scheduled on Monday November 11, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 1051 South Waggoner Road, Reynoldsburg, Ohio, followed by a noon burial ceremony at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Pataskala. A reception will follow at St. Pius X Church hall.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Rosie's name to St. Pius, Alzheimer's research (Alzheimer's Association, https://www.alz.org/) or Capital City Hospice (https://capitalcityhospice.com/).

Pfeifer Woodyard Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Rosie.

DIRECTIONS TO ST. PIUS X CATHOLIC CHURCH for MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11

If coming from I-270: go east on Broad Street to the intersection of Waggoner Road and E. Broad, and turn right on Waggoner; follow Waggoner to St. Pius X (on your right)

If coming from/through Pataskala: go west on Broad Street to the intersection of Waggoner and E. Broad, and turn left on Waggoner; follow Waggoner to St. Pius X (on your right)