It is with heavy hearts and heartfelt gratitude for a life so beautifully lived, we mourn the passing of Rose Marie Cunningham, who left this physical world on June 21, 2023. 

Rose was born on December 8, 1945 to Sam and Minnie Lee Jordan in Live Oak, FL.  Rose enjoyed growing up in Pompano Beach, FL with her brothers and sisters and surrounded by the love of a large extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins. 

Rose married her childhood sweetheart, Joe Willie Cunningham (1944-2011), in 1962, upon his enlistment into the U.S. Navy.  Rose and Joe had three children and as a Navy family, they resided in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Washington, D.C., and San Diego, CA with Rose eventually deciding to make San Diego their permanent home of residence.

Over the years, Rose enjoyed being a stay at home mom who was very active in her children’s education, often volunteering to help with classroom activities, school assemblies and field trips. Rose also held employment as a librarian, inventory specialist, kindergarten teaching assistant, and cashier.  Rose even dabbled a little in the world of politics and seized the opportunity to host a community meet and greet for the late Councilman Jim Bates in her home.    

Rose was always willing to help others.  During her lifetime, she opened her doors to many people, family and friends included, to offer food, clothing and place to stay during their time of need. Rose was the glue for her family.  She kept in touch with everyone and she had the ability make everyone feel special by nurturing unique, individual relationships. One of Rose’s core, expressed beliefs was the importance of loving your family unconditionally and regardless of circumstances or differences. 

A few of Rose’s hobbies were creating doll furniture, making Halloween costumes for her children and grandchildren, gardening, and preparing huge meals for family and friends to enjoy.  Rose simply danced to the beat of her own drum, radiating an infectious joy for life that inspired those around her to find and embrace love, being in love and to live each moment to its fullest.  And in the winter season of her life, Rose did, in fact, find love again with Mr. Norman Wilson. 

Rose also had an adventurous spirit - a woman who found endless excitement in her favorite pastime, playing the slot machines at the casinos and scratching off spaces on those scratch off tickets.  No, she wasn’t a hardcore gambler, she simply enjoyed the excitement of the casinos and hanging out with family and friends whom enjoyed doing the same. 

Rose’s spirit and the life lessons she imparted illustrate her legacy - to cherish the love of family.  Rose, also affectionately known as “Grammy” showed a love for her family  that was an embodiment of the purest form of affection, care, and understanding. This is the torch she passes on to us - to love, to live, and to cherish our loved ones always! 

Rose aka Grammy, is lovingly remembered and deeply missed by her 3 children, Angela Culbreath, Michelle Porter, and Michael Cunningham, 7 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, 3 brothers, 2 sisters and a host of extended family members and friends whom survive her. 

We invite you to join us in celebrating the extraordinary life of Rose “Grammy” Cunningham on August 26, 2023, at 10 AM at the Texas Rangers Golf Club as we share stories, laugh, and perhaps shed a tear, while we remember Rose and the beautiful life she lived. 

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