RoseMarie Wildman

It is with deep sadness but also with hope and joy for the resurrection that we share the passing of RoseMarie Wildman. At the age of 89, she died at Kendal-on-Hudson on June 2nd, where she has lived with her husband, Lynn, for the past 7 years. RoseMarie was the handbell director at Emanuel for 24 years. During her tenure, she grew the program from one choir to eventually four, taking the choirs beyond our doors, locally and internationally to share the music ministry of Emanuel. She was also instrumental in beginning two local handbell festivals, the Riverside Handbell Festival and the Hudson Valley Handbell Festival. These two annual events allow the ringers to experience sharing music with fellow ringers, under the direction of nationally known and even internationally know Mass Directors. The Riverside Handbell Festival provides an opportunity for local choirs to prepare more challenging music, elevating their ringing to a higher level. RoseMarie was involved in the handbell and chime choirs, at the Congregational Church in Chappaqua, Katonah Celebration Ringers, Mount Kisco Senior Center, the Riverside Church, Kendal-on-Hudson and countless others. The motto of the American Guild of English Handbells, “Uniting people through the musical art of handbells”, she took that motto to heart, and has certainly united enumerable amount of people through handbell music and service.

A memorial service will be held later in June at Riverside Church. Please keep the Wildman family in your prayers. More details will follow.