Rosemary Gelman

Rosemary C. Gelman, 77, of Hopkinton passed away of an abrupt illness on April 13. Born in Boston, she was the daughter of the late Bernard and Mary (Reilly) Carroll. She was the wife of 41 years to Dr. Martin Gelman of Hopkinton.

Rosemary was born at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital and returned to work there where she met her future husband, a new nephrologist coming on staff from Mass General in 1975. After an extended courtship,  they were married on July 10, 1983, in an intimate garden wedding on Martha’s Vineyard. Rosemary earned her nursing degree at the St. Elizabeth’s Nursing School. She worked as an RN at several Boston hospitals, including Mass General, Mount Auburn and St. Elizabeth’s — becoming head nurse of the hemodialysis unit for many years.

Rosemary continued her education, earning a master’s degree and nurse practitioner license from UMass Lowell. She worked as a nurse practitioner at Urban Medical Group, serving inner-city patients in the Dorchester, Roxbury and Mattapan areas of Boston. Together, Rosemary and Martin started a dialysis unit in 1987 in Hopedale, spearheading a program then known as “short daily dialysis.” Rosemary was a nurse administrator for the program. They expanded with a second unit in Everett and went on to provide acute dialysis services to 11 other Boston hospitals. Shortly thereafter, she worked with her husband to start a home dialysis program.

Rosemary focused on her children’s activities, including serving as a board member of their elementary school, Touchstone Community School in Grafton.

Rosemary was well known for her compassion and generosity. She volunteered at her children’s schools and donated to many causes, including national parks, the arts and public television. She was quietly tough but kind and sweet, always supporting those she loved and cheering them on in their endeavors. She was known as the rock in her family — the stabilizing force who always knew every detail. Rosemary was extremely proud of her family and had a special relationship with her mother, whom she cared for dearly throughout her life. Her love for her family and their love for her was the central focus of her life. She enjoyed winters in Vail with her cousins and summers on the Cape in their house in Brewster as well as ski vacations to local New England mountains.

Rosemary particularly loved national parks. She and her family visited 12 of them across the country. Her other family trips included Central and South America and the Galapagos Islands. She also visited many cities in Europe.

In addition to her husband, Rosemary is survived by her two sons, David Gelman of Denver and Matthew Gelman of Waltham. She also leaves behind her siblings, Bernard Carroll of Norfolk, Joe Carroll of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, and Andrea Carroll of Hayward, Wisconsin, and her recently late brother, Leo Carroll of Narragansett, Rhode Island. She also is survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews in New England.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, April 27, from 2-5 p.m. at the Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton, 57 Hayden Rowe Street. A funeral service will take place at 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 28, in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the U.S. National Park Service.

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