Dr. Rosmarin Celeste Riley-Steward, age 55, a resident of Aurora, died Tuesday, September 1, 2009 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, IL. She was born August 30, 1954 to Willie and Margaret (Anderson) Riley in Chicago, IL. She was the third of six children born to this union.

Rosmarin accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age and was active in church.

She received a scholarship from St. Bernard's Elementary School to attend Loretta Academy High School. She later moved and graduated from Hirsch Metro High School. She attended Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, and there she met and was united in holy matrimony with Larry Steward. To this union were born five children: Christopher, David, Dominique, and twins, Rachel and Rebecca.

Rosmarin later graduated Magna Cum Laude from Chicago State University. She was then accepted into several medical schools, but ultimately selected the University of Iowa, graduating with a doctoral degree in medicine in 1983. She completed her internship at Brookdale Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York and later returned to Chicago to complete her residency at St. Joseph's Hospital in Internal Medicine. She was a Loyola University Medical Center fellow in Pulmonology. She was a board certified physician in pulmonary medicine and specialized in occupational medicine. During her career, she traveled the world exercising her expertise in Africa and several of the Caribbean islands. She was a member of the National Health Service Corps, working as a physician on Indian reservations, in homeless shelters and in free clinics across the nation. She was also a faculty member at the University of Health Sciences on the island of Antigua.

Rosmarin enjoyed reading and studying God's Word, a great pleasure and strength in her life. She loved the Lord Jesus Christ with all her heart and was an active member at every church she attended. While at Wheaton Christian Center, she was a Sunday School teacher, an intercessor, and a dedicated parent volunteer with the youth group, often accompanying the teens on domestic and international trips. In 2002, Rosmarin moved to Connecticut to serve as the primary care physician at a local homeless shelter. Upon returning to Illinois, she joined her sister at Living Word Christian Center. She quickly became active in the area of Prayer Ministry Counseling, was a member of the Evangelism Team, and a member of the Elijah Running Club, participating in the 2007 Chicago Marathon. After taking ill, she became a faithful member of Wheaton Christian Center Aurora.

Rosmarin was a very generous and giving person, volunteering her medical services domestically and abroad, including: Ghana, Jamaica, Zimbabwe, aboard Mercy Ships, and at the Open Door Medical Center in Michigan City, Indiana. She worked with various charities and was a board member of El Shaddai's Wings Outreach Ministry for the Homeless and Gadal, an educational organization. Rosmarin also started a non-profit healthcare organization called Covenant Care Consultants.

Dr. Rosmarin Riley-Steward went home to be with her Lord on September 1, 2009. She is survived by her children: Christopher (Tykeisha) Steward, David (Justine) Steward, Dominique Steward, and her eleven grandchildren: Kristofyr, Khitanna-Skye, Kayla, Joseph, Joshua, Karisma, Jonathan, Joel, Kayden, Kira and Khalyl. Also left to cherish her memory are her mother, Margaret L. Riley, siblings: Rev. Dennis Riley, Victor (Phyllis) Riley, Marlon Riley and Sharon Riley; nephew Victor Lord, niece Danielle, World Vision sponsored son, Evariste, and many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her twin daughters, Rachel and Rebecca; her brother, Stuart; and father, Willie.

Rosmarin is now at peace, sitting at the feet of the Great Physician and Master Healer, Jesus Christ, her Lord.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 8, 2009, from 10:00 A.M. until the time of a funeral service at 11:00 A.M. at Wheaton Christian Center, 610 E. North Ave., in Carol Stream. Interment will follow the services at Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery in Naperville, IL.

In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be directed to World Vision, #10038-8193 (Evariste Ndamukunda), P. O. Box 70399, Tacoma, WA 98481-0399. Please put the account number in the memo line on the check. Account: 10038-8193.