Rosemary Hajost

Rosemary Hajost, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed peacefully to the Lord Saturday, July 6, 2024, at 92 in Lancaster, Ohio. She was surrounded by members of her loving family. 

Rosemary graduated from Denison University with a degree in theatre. And later received her Masters of Education. For many years, however, raising six children, teaching, and working in the family business left little time for theatre activities. Rosemary eventually became one of the four founding members of The Lancaster Playhouse and even appeared on stage portraying Florence Foster Jenkins in Glorious at the age of 85.

Rosemary was a founding member of the West After School Center and the Mentoring Mom’s for first time single mothers. She later became a Lancaster City School Board member, contributed significantly to the Lancaster County Parks and Big Brother’s and Big Sister’s as a board member, and helped her husband build the Ohio Glass Museum. Rosemary was an active Rotarian for over 50 years and was active in the local YMCA, Habitat for Humanity and Froebel Club.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband Leonard Hajost, parents, William Dain Akin and wife Mary Adeline Akin, and sibling Todd Akin. 

She is survived by sons Scott Hajost (Theresa,) Brian Hajost (Elizabeth,) Bradley and Bruce Hajost, and daughters Cynthia Hajost (Kerry,) and Becky Hajost-Brown (Eric). Rosemary is survived by 14 grandchildren and include Dalinda, Jessica, Alex, Christian, Andrew, Elizabeth, Sasha, Anya, Erik, Annie, Heath, Akane, Jennifer and Steven. 

Visiting hours will be 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, July 8, 2024 at the Frank E. Smith Funeral Home ~ Lancaster. There will be a brief visiting period from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. prior to the funeral at the First Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. Burial will take place in Forest Rose Cemetery. The family invites everyone to join them in a celebration of Rosemary’s life at the Lancaster Golf Club at 4:00 p.m. Please feel free to wear yellow and bright colors. 

The family would like to express our sincere thanks for the wonderful help and care given by the medical staff at Fairfield Medical Hospital and the entire staff at Primrose Retirement Community, and the Fairhope Hospice/ Pickering House. 

In lieu of flowers, friends may make donations to any of Rosemary’s favorite charities, including the Ohio Glass Museum, Big Brother’s Big Sister’s, the West After School Program and the Fairhope Hospice/Pickering House.

To send an online condolence, and sign the guest book, please visit www.funeralhome.com.