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Isn’t it lovely how a name made up of three syllables, two high and one low, can conjure up all of the memories and feelings of a human life? Rose Marie. As you say her name silently, your mind, no doubt, becomes flooded with countless memories of moments that you shared with her, some filled with smiles and contagious laughter, while others may contain the tears of pain and loss. Those memories, both good and bad, bind us to one another and draw us together as we gather here today to remember and celebrate the life of an amazing lady, Rose Marie Clayton. She was a beloved wife, mother, sister, and aunt to some of us and a beloved friend to all of us.

Born to John and Barbara Bacinsky on June 4, 1939, Rose Marie was the oldest of the five daughters that John and Barbara would have together between 1939 and 1948. John was a steel mill worker and Barbara was a homemaker. They both worked hard to provide for their family in a three-bedroom house in West Mifflin, PA. While Rose Marie and her sisters didn’t have a lot of material possessions growing up on Poplar Street, they had an unlimited supply of what they needed, the love of a devoted family and the fortifying presence of their Catholic faith. Their love of faith and family formed the girls into strong, devout women who loved the Lord and, in return, they loved the families they raised in the same way.

As you can imagine, a three bedroom house with only one bathroom and FIVE girls could not have been a quiet place growing up. While there was the usual bickering among siblings, there was even more joy and laughter experienced within those walls. Rose Marie and her sisters, Barbara, Frances, Joanne, and Bernie, have always enjoyed a close bond. When all five sisters would be in the same room, the laughter could be heard down the street. They all truly loved one another deeply.

As Rose Marie grew into her teenage years, she became more and more beautiful. While she was undoubtedly the object of much admiration from the opposite gender, she only ever had eyes for one man, the love of her life, Charles “Chuck” Clayton. In case you haven’t heard the story of how Rose and Chuck met, you are in for a treat. As was mentioned earlier, the Bacinskys were devout Catholics and weekly mass was a must. I don’t know who noticed who first, but Chuck was a very handsome altar boy at the church and Rose Marie would make sure to get in the line for communion where Chuck was stationed so that she could admire him every chance she could, and he admired her back. It wasn’t too long before Chuck got up the nerve to ask Rose Marie out on a date and the rest is history. The couple never dated anyone else and were married a few years later. For over 60 years, they were each other’s rock to lean on and each other’s soft place to fall. Chuck and Rose Marie were certainly blessed with the love that first blossomed in front of the altar so many years ago.

Rose Marie and Chuck exchanged their wedding vows in front of that same altar on September 12, 1959 and they started their married life together. Chuck was in the U.S. Coast Guard at the time and was stationed along the east coast, so for a time they lived apart. The following year, their union was blessed with their first son, Charles Michael, on June 3, 1960. Chuckie Michael was the light of their life. Chuck was eventually honorably discharged from the Coast Guard and the young family settled in West Mifflin, PA where they eventually purchased a house. In this house, they would welcome their second son, John Edward, born on November 3, 1965. Rose Marie was an amazing mother who always put her family first. Their home was a happy one and Rose Marie and Chuck raised their boys with love and much laughter. Holidays were celebrated with large extended family gatherings full of delicious food and spirited fun. In time, Rose’s four sisters all had families with children of their own, so there were lots of nephews and nieces to love. She was known to them as Aunt Rosie and they all adored her. Life was indeed good.

After completing high school, their oldest, Chuckie Michael, joined the U.S. Navy, where he served our country with honor. He traveled the world and loved to tell of his adventures. When his time in the Navy was up, he had acquired so many valuable skills in the military that he was able to begin a civilian career with ease. Things were going well when tragedy struck. On November 24, 1990, Chuckie Michael was killed in a plane crash. It was a devastating blow to all of the family, but none as much as Rose Marie, Chuck Sr., and John. To those who know personally, there is no pain like the pain of losing a child. If there is any joy that we can all agree on today, I think we can agree that Rose Marie and Chuckie Michael have had a heck of a reunion on those golden streets of Heaven this week!

As Scripture says, “the good Lord giveth, and the good Lord taketh away”. After Chuckie Michael’s death in 1990, the good Lord gave the Clayton family some blessings. John married Beth in 1991 and they were blessed with the birth of their son, Tyler, in 1992, and their daughter, Ashley, in 1994. Rose Marie and Chuck were delighted by their two grandchildren who were the source of so much joy for them.

Through the years, work kept both Chuck and Rose Marie busy. Chuck had a successful career with Beneficial Financial, and Rose, while she held many office jobs at different times, she was a natural go-getter and an entrepreneur at heart. At one point, she opened a business called Kingston Supply where they sold leather goods and jewelry, among other things, and it enjoyed much success. Eventually, they would close the business and when retirement finally came to pass, Rose Marie and Chuck settled in to a slower pace and they began to enjoy the finer things in life, such as traveling and getting together with friends and square dancing. If you had the privilege of being around Rose Marie and Chuck for long, you would no doubt have experienced their contagious laughter that would fill the room! They were so much fun to be around. We will certainly miss Rose’s laughter and the way that she loved each one of us with her whole heart.

While each of them have had their share of physical challenges throughout the years when their wedding vows “in sickness and in health” were tested, Chuck really stepped up in the past 4 years as Rose Marie’s health declined. We all watched from afar and marveled as his love for his bride was revealed over and over as he cared for her and took care of all her needs. Such selfless love is love in its truest form. We all thank you, Chuck, for your unending devotion to Rose Marie. On Monday, July 26, 2021, you delivered her back to our Lord in Heaven where you shall see her again someday and her body shall be whole and your joy will be complete. We all look forward to that day with you.

Until then, we praise God for the gift of Rose Marie in our lives, we express our deep gratitude that we were blessed by her love, and we sincerely pray that she knows just how very much we all loved her! Rest in the eternal joy and peace of Heaven, Rose Marie. You certainly earned your spot among the angels. We will always love you and will never ever forget you.