Mass, funeral plans for Clooney taking shape locally

By LISA DUNBAR, Maysville's Ledger Independent
July 2, 2002

Plans were being finalized locally Monday for services for Rosemary Clooney, who died Saturday at her Beverly Hills home.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Patrick Church at 10 a.m. Friday, according to Rev. William Hinds. There will be no visitation.

Although the services are likely to attract a number of mourners, with a seating capacity of 800 at the church, Hinds does not expect a problem.

“I think we’ll have a nice, large crowd,” said Hinds. “I think we’ll fit in nicely.”

The church was filled at Clooney’s 1997 marriage to Dante DiPaolo.

St. Patrick Church is not air conditioned, but Hinds said with the service being in the morning, he doesn’t expect the heat to be a problem.

“I think it will be peaceful and reverent,” he said.

Hinds said it was sad losing Rosemary, who was always a fun person to be around.

“But we trust in the Lord and the reverence of Jesus,” he said.

Services in Maysville for Rosemary Clooney are being arranged by Moore and Parker Funeral Home in Augusta.

John Parker said arrangements had to be coordinated with services in California, and arrangements had to be finalized there before Moore and Parker could schedule services in Maysville.

Parker said coordinating arrangements with out-of-state funeral homes is fairly common and should pose no problems.

Maysville Police Chief Van Ingram said he is anticipating a large turnout for the funeral and more officers will be scheduled to handle traffic. He is coordinating police supervision with Moore and Parker Funeral Home.

Limestone Street between Third and Fourth streets will be closed from 8 a.m. until after services on the day of the funeral, he said.

A memorial service and visitation is planned for Wednesday at Good Shepherd Church in Beverly Hills.

Clooney is survived by her husband, Dante DiPaolo; five children, Miguel Ferrer, Gabriel Ferrer, Rafael Ferrer, Maria Murdock and Monsita Botwick, all of the Los Angeles area; a brother, Nick Clooney of Augusta; a sister, Gayle Darley of Beverly Hills, Calif.; and 10 grandchildren.