Rosemary Greifenstein

ROSEMARY “MIMI” MARTHA GREIFENSTEIN (nee Messner), age 85, passed away peacefully on September 30, 2024, surrounded by family after a short illness following surgery. Born March 29, 1939, the oldest of six, to Blanche (nee Bayne) and William Messner, Sr. Mimi grew up a proud West Sider where she was introduced to Frank Greifenstein by his sister, over 70 years ago. He was the love of her life. The two married in Peninsula on June 20, 1959. All her life Mimi was a friend to lost souls, opening her own home and heart to friends and strangers alike. When the family moved to Ridgway in the hills of Pennsylvania in 1974, Mimi expanded her horizons becoming a ceramicist, a grade-school counselor, and returned to her reporter roots, even interviewing a Senate candidate. After the family moved back to Brooklyn, Ohio, in the 80’s, Mimi did everything from managing a temporary employment agency to working as a telephone solicitor to manning the KeyBank help desk during Y2K to dog walking. After retiring, Rosemary went “continental”, taking several tours of Europe, including visiting her ancestral villages in Ireland and Scotland. Other trips included visiting Spain, England and the Greifenstein Castle in Germany, along with family visits in Florida. In her later years, she rescued several senior dogs. Mimi was a voracious reader, loved outlet shopping, flea markets, and ardently supported women’s rights. She was a lifelong Catholic and was a Parishioner St. Thomas More Church in Brooklyn. She reveled in visits from the grandkids and great-grandkids and truly lived all of her precious years, usually with a second glass of ice at the ready. Survived by her devoted, adoring husband of 65 years, Frank Greifenstein, and children, Laura (Liz Hosmer) Brady, John Greifenstein (Linda) and Eric Greifenstein (Lorelei). Rosemary was the beloved grandmother of Sarah (PJ) Kazimer, Keirsten (Primo) Thomas, Shelly (Austin) Greifenstein, Jacob (Serenity) Greifenstein, Joshua Greifenstein and Lili (Jake) Chmielewski and nine great-grandchildren. She is survived by brothers, Sonny (Barb), Ron (Judi), Dave (Janice) and Mike. Preceded in death by her daughter Mary Greifenstein, parents, brother Tom and sons-in-law John Brady and William Byndas. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the last rescue she used, No Pawz Left Behind www.nopawzleftbehind.org or Cleveland APL www.clevelandapl.org. A mass and celebration of life will be held at a future date.