Rosemary M. Cantey

Rosemary “Rose” Margaret Melfi Cantey, 87, of Mount Pleasant, wife to the late Jack Cantey, entered into eternal rest on December 13, 2022.

Born on June 7, 1935, in Charleston, Rose was the youngest of five children to the late Walter Melfi and Gertrude (Cooper) Melfi. She was preceded in death by her brother Walter Melfi Jr. and her sisters Marie Kann and Delores DeLuca.  

Rose attended Bishop England High School where she met the love of her life, Jack. They were married on August 31, 1957, at Blessed Sacrament Church.

She graduated from Bishop England High School in 1953 and received her Nursing degree from St. Francis School of Nursing in 1956. Rosemary spent her entire nursing career at St. Francis Xavier Hospital initially on the Med-Surg ward, working in numerous areas throughout the hospital with her final stop in Preadmission Testing. When her children were young, she often worked night shifts, and as they grew older, she would start her workday before her kids were even out of bed. She was named Nurse of the Year in 1998 and retired in 2006.

Rosemary and Jack lived in the same house in Mt. Pleasant for over 50 years, where they raised five children and eventually settled into retirement. Rose was a longtime active member of Christ Our King Catholic Church, attending daily Mass and often volunteering with the Theresians.

As a nurse and mother of five children, Rose didn’t have much free time. She did enjoy playing bridge and sewing, including her own wedding dress and countless outfits for her children. She was often “running” to the store and taking a few brief moments to “rest her eyes” while sitting in her chair. She was the most patient, loyal, kindest, and hardest working lady you would ever meet. She was a woman of few words, but if you were lucky enough to catch one of her quips, she sure could make you laugh.  She was a true servant to both her patients and her family.

She was immensely proud of her children and her 17 grandchildren and whenever possible cheered them on from the stands at their football, soccer, volleyball, basketball, and softball games. She volunteered at her children’s schools including running the ring toss booth at the Christ Our King-Stella Maris school bazaar for many years and working with the Bishop England Endowment fund.

As a devout Catholic, she passed on her faith and love of the Lord and Virgin Mary to her children.

Given that her husband was a football coach, it’s no surprise that Rose was an avid football fan. You always knew where to find her on a Friday night - watching BE football. She and Jack spent many Saturdays in Death Valley watching Clemson football during the years that their five children attended school there. She also loved cheering on the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame and was able to attend a game in South Bend.

Rose was loved and respected by the many people – family, friends, and colleagues – whose lives she impacted. She will be missed but held close in the hearts of her sister Mae Frances Holmes, her children Maria White (George) of Marietta, Ga., Angela Clair (Robby) of Mount Pleasant, Jean Cantey-Kiser (Kevin) of Wilmington, NC, John Cantey Jr. (Haley) of Mount Pleasant, and Elizabeth Waters (Christopher) of Mount Pleasant, and her grandchildren, Caroline White DeLorenzo (Felix), John Fulton White (Ansley), Gracie White, Jennie White, William Clair, Sullivan Clair, Meredith Clair, Kasey Kiser, Niko Kiser, Fletcher Aylor, John Robert Cantey III, Lilly Kate Cantey, Thomas Hayes Cantey, Stanley Waters, Bryton Waters, Wyatt Waters, and Evalyn Waters.

Family and friends are invited to attend her visitation on Sunday, December 18th from 3:00 pm-6:00 pm, with a rosary beginning at 3:30 pm at McAlister-Smith Funeral Home, 1520 Rifle Range Rd., Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464.

The Liturgy of Christian Burial Mass will be held at Christ Our King, Monday, December 19, 2022, at 1:00 pm, 1149 Russel Drive, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464. The burial will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery, 604 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412 (James Island).

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Rose’s memory can be made to the Jack Cantey Bishop England Scholarship Fund, c/o Lisa Doyle 363 Seven Farms Drive, Daniel Island 29492.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to McALISTER-SMITH FUNERAL & CREMATION, Mt. Pleasant, 1520 Rifle Range Rd., Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464, (843) 884-3833.