In Memory of Rosemary Takahashi

Rosemary Takahashi

Spouse: Kazuo Takahashi
Children: Kasumi, Jine, Fumika, Seiko
DOB: January 7, 1954
Blessing: July 1, 1982
Ascension: September 12, 2024
Seonghwa Ceremony: Saturday September 21, at 10 am EDT at the Mealey Funeral Home, 2509 Limestone Road, Wilmington, DE 19808
Viewing: Saturday 21, at 9 am EDT
GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/d5cabd3d

Rosemary Una Guy was born in Falmouth in Cornwall, England, on January 7, 1954. While growing up, she enjoyed spending time with her older brother Robin and older sister Ruby, and baking with her mother Gwen. Her father Charles was a blacksmith. Rosemary had a great interest in the world and loved learning languages, including French and German. She also enjoyed going to church with her parents and had fond memories of singing in the choir and ringing the church bells.

While in her first year of study at the University of Reading in 1972, Rosemary joined the Unification Church. From 1973 to 1975, she traveled with International One World Crusade and supported Reverend Moon’s Day of Hope speaking tour. Her travels took her to multiple cities in the United States, Japan, and South Korea. Rosemary then worked in Europe as a missionary and, in 1978, went to Toronto, Canada to continue her missionary work. She later moved to Edmonton for a pioneering mission. Rosemary loved living in Canada and made some lifelong friendships.

Rosemary married Kazuo Takahashi on July 1, 1982, in the 2,075 couples blessing held in Madison Square Garden in New York. In 1986, they moved to Wilmington, Delaware, where they began running a Japanese restaurant (Mikasa, later renamed Niwano Hana). The restaurant was well-known in the area and was awarded the “Best of Delaware” many times during its 22-year run.

Rosemary and Kazuo had four daughters who had a great upbringing in Delaware, engaging in many activities - going to Japanese language school, taking tennis lessons, participating in the local 4H club, and reading many books from the library. As a family, they enjoyed going out in nature, including picking fruits, hiking, and taking camping trips. Rosemary loved to try out new recipes from global cuisines and the family enjoyed many homemade birthday cakes, mostly cheesecakes. She also loved to spend time with her family cats, Mimi and Lilo.

While raising her children, Rosemary was active in the church community and served as a representative to the Women’s Federation for World Peace. In addition to supporting the restaurant business, she worked various jobs such as delivering newspapers and working at a tax accounting firm. She also studied to complete her Bachelor of Arts degree, which she received from Regents College in 1998, and her Master of Education degree, received from Wilmington University in 2006. Rosemary then began her teaching career, first in the public school system, and then at private schools providing special education. She was so happy to serve in this profession, having had a passion for teaching for many years, including when she taught English to Vietnamese refugees in Canada.

Rosemary was officially diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2019, though the disease had already been slowly progressing for some years prior. She spent the last few years under the loving care of her family at home. Despite the pain and difficulty of living with this disease, she maintained her kindness, sense of humor, enthusiasm for social connection, and appreciation of music and nature. On the evening of September 12, 2024, Rosemary passed away with her family at her side. She is survived by her husband, Kazuo, and her daughters Kasumi, Jine, Fumika, and Seiko.