Rosemary Kilinski Obituary

Rosemary Kilinski died of ovarian cancer Wednesday, June 3, 2009, at her home in Lake Durango. She was 67.

Mrs. Kilinski was born May 6, 1942, in South Gate, Calif., to Katherine and Mattias Graff. She was raised in Southern California and graduated from Long Beach State University with a degree in X-ray technology.

Her career focused on advanced technology, and she worked in administration at Rockwell International for several years.

She later worked as a program manager for Sun Microsystems in the Silicon Valley in Northern California.

She married Don Kilinski in 1989, and the couple moved to Durango in 1999.

Mrs. Kilinski is remembered by friends as having a warm and welcoming personality. She was well-known for willingness to appreciate the good and positive qualities in other people.

Even during her long battle with cancer, she is remembered as maintaining a joyful and positive attitude. Friends remember that she brought great encouragement and inspiration to all who came into her life, and her sense of humor always was infectious, even in difficult times.

She is survived by her husband of 21 years, Donald Kilinski of Durango; brother, Joe Graff of Goodyear, Ariz.; nieces, nephews, three stepchildren and four stepgrandchildren.

A viewing for family and close friends will be held from 9 to 9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 13, at Hood Mortuary in Durango. Burial will come after at Greenmount Cemetery at 10 a.m., and a celebration of her life will take place at 11:30 a.m. at the Pine Valley Four Square Church in Bayfield.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Durango or to the American Cancer Society.