Rosa Winfield Key

Intermountain Catholic

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SALT LAKE CITY — Rosa Winfield Key, 85, passed away on June 11, 2012, of complications from diabetes and renal failure.

Key was born on Aug. 17, 1926 to Anderson J. "Wimpy" Winfield and Georgia Abernathy in Memphis, Tenn. She married Willie Key on Aug. 12, 1944 in Memphis.

In 1965 the family was baptized and became members of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. She was past president of the Sacred Heart Altar Society, the Salt Lake Deanery, the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women and the Catholic Women’s League. She also served on the Board of the National Council of Catholic Women as international chair and chair of National Council of Catholic Women’s nominating committee, and served on the Catholic Community Service Board and St. Benedict’s ACT Board. She was appointed by Bishop William K. Weigand to the National Council of Catholic Interracial Justice, and was founder of the African American Catholics of Utah. She was awarded the "Papal Honor" Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice in 1989.

Key was employed at the University of Utah Hospital for 26 years and upon retiring she volunteered for 16 years. She was the treasurer of university’s RSEA.

Key is survived by son Marion A. "Tony" Key; daughters Sonia Key-Fender and Renee Key-LaGrant; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A funeral Mass was celebrated at the Cathedral of the Madeleine.