Rosanne Kelly Monahan Ziegler

Rosanne Kelly Monahan Ziegler, 81, of Pittsburgh, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, April 3, 2021, surrounded by family. She was born in Uniontown, PA, on May 18, 1939, and was the daughter of the late Michael J. Kelly and Patricia A. Hanlon.

Rosanne was an amazing woman, loving wife, incredible mother, doting grandmother and the rock of the family. She was preceded in death by her husband, Daniel Ziegler II, and her son, Jerry T. Monahan. She is survived by her sisters, Patricia Reynolds and Mary Alice D’Andrea; her three daughters, Michelle Monahan, Peggy Beebe and Patti Osha, and three stepchildren, Daniel Ziegler III, Wendy Christopher and Gary Ziegler, and their 17 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Family was everything to Rosanne. Being a good mother was her favorite and most important job, and she opened her arms and heart to embrace not only her own kids but as a stand-in mom for more than a few others who needed a little guidance and love in their lives over many years.

During her high school years, she lived with her Aunt May in Uniontown so she could get the kind of education her mother felt wasn’t offered where they were living near Pittsburgh, hopping on a bus to spend every weekend back at home. She passed her love of learning on to her children, taking pride in all four college graduates.

As a divorced mom of four during the 1970s days of the second wave of feminism, she worked two, often three jobs without complaint to support her family. And somehow, she always found time for family dinners, weekend outings and station wagon vacations to amusement parks. Birthdays were celebrated with boxed cakes made into special request characters, holidays were busy, crazy times of decorations and festivities, and Sundays (and every day during Lent) included a speed-demon car ride down Fayette Street to narrowly beat the train crossing, arriving a split second before the priest came down the aisle. She made life a fun adventure.

Raising four kids on her own wasn’t enough for Rosanne. Believing that the Girls Scouts had too many rules and not enough fun, she established a Girls Club for 7th and 8th graders and filled it with trips to Pittsburgh to see films and live performances. She orchestrated her own shows, turning the gymnasium of St. John’s R.C. into a dinner theater with the girls belting out Broadway songs or acting out Godspell.

Growing up, the kitchen breakfast nook may have been small, but it was the stage to many a hearty meal, life lesson or lecture served up by Rosanne to her kids, and countless friend time. She made sure there was always room for a few more to squeeze in, a safe place for a good debate on the merits and pitfalls of being a “Cafeteria Catholic,” and sharing a glass or two of wine over long evenings with friends.

She raised her girls to be fiercely strong, independent women. Rosanne was a fighter. She survived the loss of her first marriage, battled cancer, said goodbye to her husband, the love of her life, buried her only son and overcame the many health challenges that visited during the recent years of her life.

As a self-sufficient and practical go-getter, she taught her kids to strive to be leaders, not followers; to do a job well; that life isn’t always fair; that you can do anything that you set your mind to; to seek happiness in small ways; that it’s okay to challenge the Catholic Church as long as you live with God in your heart; and when you don’t want to do something, to “offer it up.”

Rosanne was known for her sense of style and grace under pressure, a fashionista long before the word became popular. She believed in color coordinated everything, down to her matching accessories (because you aren’t fully dressed without your earrings, after all). She liked a good book, was a wonderful cook and enjoyed sailing with Dan on Happiness Is and traveling to spend time with family and friends, including an extended vacation to visit family in The Philippines.

After moving to Pittsburgh in 1979, Rosanne joined the dental/oral surgery practice of Finder & Spatz as a dental assistant and progressed to office manager over the 18 years there until her early retirement. She was an active and dedicated member of St. John’s R.C. Church in Uniontown, PA, and the Church of the Resurrection in Brookline, PA.

Due to her body donation to the Humanity Gift Registration and in deference to limitations of the ongoing pandemic, her memorial service will be determined at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Angels for the Elderly, LLC, 5605 Marilynn Dr., Pittsburgh, PA 15236.

Please view and sign the family’s online guestbook at www.PittsburghCremation.com.

Her 17 Grandchildren

Alyssa Bazala

Abby Bazala

Ryan Beebe

Megan Beebe

Sean Beebe

Shannon Beebe

Madison Monahan

Michael Monahan

Shane Monahan

Brady Christopher

Erik Daniel Ziegler

Leanna Vicente Ziegler

Derek Vicente Ziegler

Karen Angela Ziegler

Roby Anne Camacho

Amanda Magno Ziegler

Aaron Daniel Magno Ziegler

Her 3 Great-Grandchildren

Elvis Palmer

Tristin Camacho

Bennett Beebe