I was given a great privilege over the last two years. I was able to participate in the company and care of Ellen’s mother, Rosemary Hogarty. Ellen took her mother under her care from September 2020 – August 2022. Her mother came from lush Hawaii (where she had lived for 60 years) to the desert of Vado, NM.
Rosemary brought a whole new dimension to the Lord’s Ranch. She gave the children art lessons, knitting lessons, and played Yahtzee with them. When the children had birthday parties she was there to celebrate with them. When a holiday was celebrated, she was there.
Once the Ranch children (during the pandemic) put on a show in the barn on top of the hay bails. It was a whole drama (costumes and all) that they had practiced. They also had games and gave out tickets and prizes. The Ranchers were there to watch it, including Rosemary who was 89 at the time. She was delighted with the children’s imagination and ingenuity. It added so much that Rosemary was there.
Rosemary and I would play a canasta card game twice a week. It was during those games that we would talk and share and laugh about all kinds of things. It was a blessed and happy time for us both.
Little by little Rosemary’s health started to decline. Even then, she rose to the occasion and would color or paint with the children when she was able.
At the end of July, her health went quickly downhill and on the night of August 4th at the Lord’s Ranch in her home, she quietly and peacefully passed from this world to eternal rest with Jesus. Ellen and her sister were with her when she took her last breath.
Rosemary was able to receive the last rites before she died. A priest who was at the Lord’s Ranch at the time came over the morning of August 4th and prayed prayers from the Roman Ritual for the dying. He also led a rosary at her bedside with some of her family members who were here from out of town and with some ranchers. It was so beautiful and holy.
That evening I was on a walk with my husband, and knowing Rosemary’s time was approaching, I glanced over at the house she was in just to see if there was any special aura over the house. There wasn’t anything.
Just a short time later though, when the sun was setting, God sent the most beautiful sunset on the Lord’s Ranch. I have seen a lot of sunsets on the Ranch but this one was spectacular! Not only that, there was a golden hue all over the Ranch. I felt like Heaven came down to get Rosemary. The ground became golden orange in color. I felt like it was the streets of gold from Heaven. The golden hue stayed for some time, while the colors in the sky continued to change and radiate.
I was so blown away by it all that I didn’t know what to do. I jumped in the car to go down to Ellen’s house to see if they saw it. As I drew near the house I could see Ellen’s family were all outside watching it and were struck by the colors, as were all the ranchers.
About two hours later, after this magnificent display of God’s creation, Rosemary went to be with the Lord.
We all miss her presence on the Ranch here but we know she is with us in a special way and praying for us all.
What a gift that Ellen was able to care for her mother here, and we all got to share in her special life.
God bless you,
Mary Ann / Mother Hen
Patricia G. Montenegro says
Obviously, the Lord responded to a holy life–Ellen’s mother– with a golden heaven so as to let us know where she is now. May she intercede for us who are still struggling to do our Father’s Will. Thank you for sharing this supernatural experience and the holiness of your lives. May God continue to bless all of you who are dwelling in the Lord’s Ranch; may he bring more joy and a large harvest of souls next year; may he increase devotion among you all; may your comings and goings be protected by his angels; may your projects and ministries come to fruition; and when he has blessed you enough, may he bless you one more time. In the name of the Sweetest Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Amen.