June 21, 2010
We are all sad because Auntie Rose has passed away from us.
I took this picture of her at her kitchen table, after she knit the Christmas stockings,
which she filled with money gifts for my grandkids and her great grandson, etc.
Pam had called us Wednesday to say that she had taken Auntie Rose to the hospital Tuesday night.
Joanne and I drove to New Hampshire Thursday, and visited her, sedated, in the critical care unit.
Pam, Jen and Kaarin spent those last days at her bedside.
On the wall, was the picture of Auntie Rose, beaming in her home at her 87th birthday party last month.
She sat in the middle of that photo surrounded by Pam, Jen and Kaarin all holding Lucas, Ada and Casey.
We stayed with her for some time, knowing she could hear us wishing her well.
Jen pealed an orange and applied aroma therapy, amidst the latest medical technology support.
Pam showed us the plaque and picture of Auntie Rose in the hospital lobby.
We toured Jen's offices upstairs and had dinner at Kaarin's.
We drove to Auntie Rose's home, with me fearing it might be my last time there.
I placed the rocking chair she gave me last week in my SUV, and took it back to Connecticut.
When I returned late Thursday night, Auntie Rose had mailed me this newspaper clipping on Tuesday, hours before her heart incident.
She was always thinking of others, knowing I am interested in energy issues now.
| I will miss her, her postal letters, her genuine interest in all I do, her emails such as this one: |
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Good Evening Mary and Peter !
Auntie Rose
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Mostly I will miss her voice when I go to my cell phone and ring her up at home.
Hello?
Auntie Rose? Peter John.
Ohhh Peter John. How good to hear your voice. How is everything?
Very good. I'm on my way to....
She always spoke of being at rest in heaven with her beloved Anthony, and with Grandma and Grandpa.
And now that is so.
Pete
Post script:
Here is a eulogy I wrote for her for Best emails:
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Auntie Rose loved her family. And we all loved her. Pam meant everything to her, and Pam’s loved ones were Auntie Rose’s loves. A closer bond between granddaughters and their Gram cannot be found. Pam, Jen and Kaarin’s frequent weekday breakfasts at Auntie Rose’s house were such a joy to them all. I picture all four, seated around Grandma and Grandpa’s old mahogany dining table in Auntie Rose’s kitchen, laughing and hugging before setting out for their busy days. And these special bonds radiated from Auntie Rose to Fred, Bob and Todd. All refined gentlemen, in love with Auntie Rose’s offspring and with Auntie Rose too.
The matriarch of her own family, and her extended family, she bestowed a special love to Auntie Ann, dad and Uncle Justin, for all of these past eighty some years; and to Mom and Aunt Lorraine and all of our generations. There was no greater delight to her, than her great grandchildren Lucas, Ada and Casey. Beyond all of us were the ____ families in Benevento, and her friends here in Durham/Dover, in Italy and in Bridgeport.
Auntie Rose’s gentle communications with all of us will never be forgotten. From hosting the rosary with Father McCabe at Grandma and Grandpa’s garden to Christmas Eve in their living room, always was she the tender aunt. When I needed help polishing my resume for the New York City management position I wanted, she took out her trustee type writer, and I landed that job. She was always genuinely concerned about me, I know, and about everyone I mentioned and many, many more. Her life’s work in the Health Care field benefited countless patients. When email first came on the scene about a dozen years ago, Auntie Rose set the standard that politeness and sincere warmth were the only way to express oneself in that medium, like any other. She has left us all knowing how to treat each other well, by the example she set. Now she will rest in heaven with Uncle Anthony, to relive their happy, but short life time spent together in Danbury. So our journey from now on, must be with her memory only. We must cherish our love with each other as she did, knowing that she is at peace with God.
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| Kaarin's wording after Pam and Jen's contributions on
the official obituary: Rose ___ ____ May__,1923 - June _, 2010 Great Grandmother, Grandmother, Mother, Daughter, Sister, Wife, Widow, Friend, Auntie, Zia, Cugina, Scribe, Neighbor, Parishioner, Valedictorian, Volunteer, Motivator, Philanthropist, Point of Light, Professor, Mentor, Guide Linguist, Author Faithfully Departed May you enjoy God's gift of eternal life.
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| And an email from Aunt Lorraine and Uncle Justin:
The good Lord took our beloved
sister Rose home on June 18th. She'd spent the two previous days on
life support but thankfully, because she had a living will, when the
doctors gave the family no further hope for her recovery, her daughter
was able to have everything removed. Six hours later, she peacefully
slipped away. I guess if a passing can be called "good", hers was, as
was her long 87-year life.
Our sister Rose was an intellect
and more than anything, family and education were her highest
priorities and she always supported all those in the family about to
embark on higher education. Years ago when she taught medical records
administration at Bridgeport University, she befriended an Italian
medical student. Because he was young, far away from home and
struggling with the language, she took him under her wing, providing
him a home away from home. Today he is a brilliant dotor practicing
in Italy. They kept in touch with one another all through the years.
Less than a month ago Rose called us so excited. Mariano was in the
states attending a conference out west. On his way, he stopped in to
see her at her home in New Hampshire and spent a couple of hours
visiting. You cannot imagine how thrilled she was! As Pam always
said, Mariano was the son Rose never had. We all see it as one last
gift...perhaps the best in her eyes.
Her life was not without sadness.
When her young husband in his early thirties died, devastated, she and
her little girl Pam returned to her parents' home in order for her to
set out to make a living. She worked and studied hard, determined to
achieve her goals. Just about then, I came on the scene. She and my
Mom had become friends before I even met Justin, so it was a real
surprise when it was discovered to each of them that we were dating.
Rose was an elegant hostess and I have such lovely memories of those
early years when she and Grandma ____ would welcome me with such
lovingly prepared delicious meals.
When she retired from teaching,
Rose moved to New Hampshire to be near her daughter. She maintained a
lovely home in a retirement community there and quickly involved
herself in her parish and community, volunteering with such dedication
that she received the US President's "Point of Light" award one year.
Because she spoke, wrote and read Italian exquisitely, she was our
family historian, keeping us all in touch with family back home in
Italy. We all have copies of her detailed family trees, each reaching
back several generations. Her darling daughter Pam provided her with
two beautiful grand daughters, Jen and Kaarin, and she lived to see
three great grand children, the crowning glories of her long life.
So, while we all mourn Rose's
passing, we really will be celebrating her life. She was one of a
kind and we were so blessed to call her "family".
Love from
Justin & Lorraine
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A few more images:
Here was Auntie Rose and her sister Auntie Annie last summer.
The statue of St Anthony and her final resting place.
Rose bushes used for her services were later transplanted to her siblings' homes.
Here are the roses in bloom at Mom and Dad's.