Rosemary Sands Edwardson

Rosemary Sands Edwardson, beloved friend, colleague, mother, and grandmother, passed away peacefully on June 18, 2025, in Hickory, North Carolina.

Born on June 28, 1945, in Trauger, Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of Catherine Florine Sands and Normand Parker Sands. Rosemary grew up in a large and loving family, with siblings Paul J. Sands (1935–2015), John A. Sands (1936–2008), Mary “Pat” Sands (1939–2009), Christine “Tina” Sands (1942–1988), Catherine "Kate" Sands (8-22-1940 to October 16, 2017), and Mary Louise Sands (born 1949).

Rosemary graduated from Seton Hill University in 1968 with a degree in art, beginning a lifelong passion for artistic expression. She later earned her Master’s Degree from UNC-Charlotte and became a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist.

She dedicated her professional life to helping others, working for many years at Phoenix Counseling Center. Based primarily in Gastonia, she also served the Shelby and Lincolnton locations and contributed her expertise to inpatient detox and crisis units. Rosemary was highly skilled in conducting substance abuse and mental health assessments. Her ability to lead therapeutic groups 20-hour, 40-hour, dual diagnosis, and triple diagnosis was unmatched. She also supervised therapists and caseworkers in the Adult Outpatient Program.

We shared a bond that spanned over three decades, 30 years of friendship and collaboration. To help manage the stresses of our work, we had lunch together every day, a tradition we continued monthly after retirement. Our favorite spots were Olive Garden, Cheddar’s, and Portofino’s.

Rosemary married Nicholas DiCuccio and is survived by their two children, Michael N. DiCuccio and Elise DiCuccio. She later married Richard Edwardson and is also survived by their two children, Sarah “Katie” Harriman and Zachariah Edwardson. Rosemary was a proud and loving grandmother to Tom DiCuccio, Andrew Harriman, and Zelda Harriman. She is also survived by her devoted dog, Gretchen.

In addition to being a remarkable therapist, Rosemary was a gifted artist. She had an extraordinary talent for combining fabric prints to create stunning quilts and was also skilled in watercolor painting.

Rosemary’s love for sports was just as passionate as her professional and artistic life. She was a lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers and Duke basketball fan. We would text throughout every game, and March Madness was always a flurry of excitement—she consistently made better bracket picks than I did. (Thankfully, I never bet against her.)

Every day, I have to remind myself that she’s no longer here. Accepting her absence will take time. My heart is with Rosemary’s family during this difficult time.

The family will have a Memorial Service Saturday at 2PM, June 28th, 2025 in Jenkins Funeral Home Celebration Center located at 4081 Startown Road, Newton, NC 28658.

Please sign the online guestbook on the Memorial Wall at www.jenkinsfuneralhome.net. The Edwardson family has entrusted arrangements to Jenkins Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Newton 828-464-1555.