RAINBOW LAKE — Rosemary Sigwalt Lake-Liotta, 58, of 703 County Route 60, Rainbow Lake, N.Y., died Monday, July 23, 2012. Born in Elgin, Ill., on July 3, 1954, the daughter of James and Mary (Hogarth) Sigwalt.
Rosemary grew up in Barrington, Ill., graduating from Barrington High School in 1972.
She studied to become an Emergency Medical Technician at Chicago City-Wide College in 1986 and worked in Chicago as an E.M.T., also training emergency personnel.
Rosemary married Richard Liotta on Aug. 11, 1988, in Milwaukee, Wisc. They moved to Saranac Lake, N.Y., in 1990.
Rosemary finished her Associate's degree in Humanities at North Country Community College in Saranac Lake in 1993 and her Bachelor's degree in Psychology at Plattsburgh State University College in 1995. She went on to receive her Master's degree in Social Work at Albany State University College in 1998. Rosemary loved learning and expanding her skills. She became a certified trainer of Neuro-Linguistic Programming and Hypnosis in 2008 and was continuing to expand her knowledge through the study of alternative and energetic healing practices.
Rosemary was a gentle and giving soul, gifted in her ability to connect with, understand, and help people to grow and change their lives. Her formal education only supplemented her fundamental intuitive wisdom.
She had a creative spirit, putting her heart into everything she did, whether enjoying friends, designing a garden, creating floral arrangements, writing poetry, or making pottery. With her deep spiritual connection to nature, she also loved hiking through the woods, and getting her hands dirty in the garden, where she was a master gardener.
In 2011, one of her stories was published in the book Sweet Fruit from the Bitter Tree: 61 Stories of Creative & Compassionate Ways out of Conflict.
Rosemary was a licensed Clinical Social Worker, and she practiced individual, couples, and family psychotherapy from 1999 to 2012, with offices in Saranac Lake, Malone, and most recently Ballston Spa, N.Y. She facilitated Heart Strings groups, wellness-oriented groups for women. Teaching others was a passion, and Rosemary conducted workshops and presented conferences on personal enrichment topics. She was also on staff at North Star Mental Health Services.
Other professional positions included Senior Social Worker at Hospice of the North County, Malone and Plattsburgh, N.Y., from 1999 to 2001 and School Social Worker at Petrova Elementary School in Saranac Lake, N.Y., from 1998 to 1999. Through her work, she touched many peoples lives with her rare combination of analytical skills and deep compassion.
Rosemary was an inspirational friend and was loved by many. Her legacy is all the lives impacted with her bright presence, heart, wisdom, and deeply empathetic nature. With humility, she always thought of others and would always offer a helping hand.
Rosemary is survived by her husband, Richard Liotta of Rainbow Lake; two brothers, James "Bud" Sigwalt and his wife Judy of Carpentersville, Ill., and Mark Sigwalt and his wife Judy of Barrington, Ill.; her sister, Patricia West of Fox Lake, Ill.; and several nieces and nephews, whom she loved dearly. She was preceded in death by her father and mother.
A celebration of life will begin at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 4 at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home, with a memorial service starting at 4 p.m. Immediately following the service, a friendship gathering will continue in the John Black Memorial Room of the Historic Saranac Laboratory, 89 Church St., Saranac Lake, N.Y., where refreshments will be served.
In lieu of flowers, please contribute to a cause that has meaning for you, knowing that Rosemary's heart has always been connected to nature, healing, and the arts.
Family and friends can also share their memories and sign the online guestbook at www.fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.
