Clara Babette “Babs” Rosenthal, 91, of Galena, IL, passed away Sunday, July 14, 2024, at Javon Bea Hospital in Rockford, IL, surrounded by her loving family. A funeral mass will be held at 11 AM, Monday, July 22, 2024, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Galena, where friends may call after 10:30 AM at the church until the time of mass. Friends may call from 1 to 4 PM on Sunday, July 21, 2024, at the Furlong Funeral Chapel, Galena, where a parish rosary will be recited at 12:30 PM. The burial will bein the church cemetery. Babs was born October 5, 1932, in Milwaukee, WI, the daughter of Clement and Gladys (McCarthy) Knaff. At the age of eight years old, she lost her mother and brother in a house fire in Benton, WI; her grandmother, Clara McCarthy, then raised her along with her three very special cousins in Hazel Green, WI. She graduated from Hazel Green High School in 1950. She went to work at the Savanna Army Depot, where she met her future husband, Ben Rosenthal. They were married on October 3, 1953, at St Mary’s Church, and he preceded her in death on July 14, 2009. Babs and Ben ran the Shopper News for several years and the Montgomery Wards Catalog Store until it closed. She later worked at the Galena Medical Clinic until her retirement. Babs was a St Mary’s Church member and the Altar and Rosary Society. She enjoyed golfing, taking many trips with Ben after retirement, and doing crafts. Most of all, she enjoyed watching her grandkids grow up and their many sporting events and school activities. She enjoyed visits from her great-grandchildren. Babs is survived by her five children, Babette (Jim) Krug, Paulette (Bill) Wiley, Jim Rosenthal, John (Shirley) Rosenthal, and Ben (Jean) Rosenthal; her 10 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and two sisters-in-law, Darlene and Katherine Rosenthal and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, grandmother, two brothers, Jim and Sammy Knaff, brothers and sisters-in-law, and her very special cousins, Jolene Temperly, Teddy Watson, and Bobby Watson. The family wishes to thank the Galena EMTs, Midwest Medical Staff, and the Javon Bea Hospital Staff for their compassionate care for our mother. Also, thank the staff and her many friends at Prairie Ridge, where she lived for the past five years, for their kindness. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to a charity of your choice in Mom’s name.