ROSEMARY ANN COGAN
(née JESSOP)

COGAN (Lakewood Ranch Florida and late of Cork) On June 20th 2022, Rosemary Ann Cogan (née Jessop), age 78, passed away peacefully surrounded by family after a valiant battle with pancreatic cancer.  Ann is survived by her devoted husband of 55 years, Carl, her son David (Christina) of Summit, NJ, daughter Melanie (Scott) of Osprey, FL, and three grandchildren Liam, Clare and Cadence, her sister Judy Jessop of Cork, extended relatives and friends, also survive her.  

May she rest in peace.

To comply with Ann’s wishes, her funeral arrangements were split between the United States and Ireland. Her remains were cremated in Sarasota, Florida, on June 23rd. A Memorial Mass was held in her spiritual home, St. Katharine of Siena Church, Wayne, Pennsylvania on June 29th. The live-stream video of this Mass can still be seen on YouTube (https://youtu.be/iwLcTfkXw08). Ann’s cremated remains will be interred at a private ceremony in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Carrigaline, on Friday, July 29th, at 2:00pm.    

In lieu of flowers, donations in Ann’s memory may be made to Mercy Hospice, 334 South 13th Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 or www.mercyhospicephilly.org.

Ann was born in Cork, Ireland on February 5, 1944 to MAJ Arthur and Wanda Jessop. She attended St. Angela’s College where she developed a passion for writing and her deep Catholic faith.  At age 14, she met her beloved Carl at a school dance.  They married years later in 1967, leaving Ireland on their wedding day for England, where they boarded the Queen Mary ocean liner to begin their new life in the United States.  Ann and Carl eventually settled in Wayne, PA where they raised their two children.

Ann graduated summa cum laude with a dual degree in Business and French from Cabrini University.  She applied her writing talents to a career in advertising and communications, serving as Vice President for Gemini Communications before moving to Florida and creating her own company, WordsWorth Communications LLC.

Ann dedicated her life to serving others.  She was a leader in St. Katharine of Siena Catholic Church in Wayne, serving as a member of the Parish Council, Eucharistic Minister, and editor of the weekly Church Bulletin. She co-founded HOPE (Helping Other People in Emergencies) to provide support services to older members of the parish.  She was a tireless advocate for the homeless, regularly spending nights in the parish center supporting homeless families as well as cooking monthly casseroles for Mercy Hospice.  Ann understood what it was like to leave her homeland and start anew, so she mentored recent immigrants to help them settle into their new lives in America.

Ann was a loyal friend to many, devoting time to friendships all over the world through regular phone calls and emails.  She was a published poet who would often recite verses from favourite poems in everyday conversations. She was a voracious reader who especially enjoyed books set in faraway lands.  Friends near and far relied on Ann for their next book recommendation. Ann will forever be remembered as a loving wife, mother and grandmother who was happiest spending time with family.

Messages may be left for Ann’s family on the condolence link below.