Good morning. I am beyond honored to have been asked to reflect on the life of a very special person in many of our lives. Aunt Rose or Rosie, as she was known to most of us, will always be remembered for her ability to make us laugh, keep us fed with her amazing food, but most importantly to be there to support us at those most critical times in our lives.

For those who may not know me, I am Patty O’Driscoll, Aunt Rosie’s niece. Many of you may remember that when I was four years old, I was the flower girl in she and Uncle Bill’s wedding. For reasons that may always remain shrouded in mystery, I failed to walk down the aisle. That did not dampen her beautiful wedding and perhaps began the lifetime bond I shared with Aunt Rosie.

She will be remembered as a devoted wife to Uncle Bill, a loving mother to her children, an amazing grandmother to her precious grandchildren, a cherished “baby” sister to her 11 siblings, and more than an aunt to many of us.

For me, Aunt Rose was like a second Mom. Always available to listen and offer advice when asked. I am confident that I am not alone in that feeling.

Her sister Clare has fond memories of assisting Rosie in dressing to perform as the May Queen. Her brother Carl and Rosie were consistently impressed when they danced the jitterbug together. Anyone who has had the pleasure of watching them dance together will vouch for their talent.

When I reflected on what to talk about this morning, four things immediately came to mind: Faith, Friends, Food, and most importantly Family.

Faith was a guiding force in Rosie’s life. She found solace and comfort in her faith and in prayer. This was reflected in her generosity and kindness. She often put the needs of others ahead of her own. She cherished her time in prayer which included the rosary group in which she was a member. Her faith carried her through some very difficult times of her life. During the loss of her soul mate, her loving daughter Amy, and through the loss of other cherished family and friends. Her strong faith was especially apparent in recent years when she was impacted by declining physical capabilities. Aunt Rose took solace in knowing that God was always there for her watching over her, especially during the difficult times.

Friends also played a key role in her life. She encountered a wide variety of diverse people over her 85 years. Her diverse work experience included her time in the Thorofare delicatessen, her work at ECSI, and her cherished time working at Saint Martin Parish as a caretaker of not only the rectory, but of the priests who resided there. I am sure they experienced great joy in partaking in the amazing meals she created for them.
At a time of life when many are slowing down, she accompanied her loving daughter Amy to begin working as a Nurse’s Aide at Marion Manor. It was there that she found a new career calling. Rosie decided to go back to school to become a Licensed Practical Nurse! She approached this new career with the same energy, enthusiasm, caring and compassion that she brought to all other aspects of her life. Rosie also found a whole new group of friends, co-workers and patients.

Food- Can we talk about food for just a moment? There was never a time that you entered her home that there wasn’t an offer or presentation of food! Aunt Rosie was a phenomenal cook who loved to share her creations with all who had the pleasure of knowing her. Her sauce and meatballs are legendary along with other dishes that are too numerous to mention.

After Stephen and I moved away from Pittsburgh, our tradition was to stop for a visit on our way out of town. While she was not able to send us home with food when we lived in Arizona, that changed when we moved back to Pennsylvania. There was always frozen food packed up to send back home with us. In fact, we have still have her amazing stuffed cabbage in our freezer from our last visit to her home over this past Mother’s Day weekend. I know we are not alone, and many have experiences of enjoying the amazing creations that emerged from Rosie’s kitchen.

Last and most important, was the role of family in her life. She and Uncle Bill raised an amazing family, Lynne, Amy, Billy, Richie, and Mark. Each of them is continuing many of the traditions that started in their childhood home.

The arrival of grandchildren brought a whole new joy to Rosie’s life. She loved every one of her grandchildren and appreciated each of them for their unique personalities and talents.

Anyone who entered Rosie and Bill’s home was immediately made to feel that you too were a member of the family. Extended family included cousins, their spouses, and their children. All were welcomed with the same level of love, warmth and hospitality.

I have cherished memories of being out for a summer evening and deciding to pop-in for an unannounced visit (time of day never mattered). It might be 2:00 in the afternoon or 2:00 in the morning! We were always hugged and treated to whatever she or Uncle Bill could provide. There was always time for a quick swim in the pool and a quick meal. So much laughter and fun!

There are amazing memories of those wonderful holidays spent together as well. Too numerous to mention. To say that family was a key part of Rosie’s life is a true understatement.

In later years, I came to treasure our phone calls. True, they could last a bit longer than planned, but it was always time well spent. I will forever equate the phrase “long story short” with my many phone conversations with Aunt Rosie!

Aunt Rosie was a woman of strength, integrity, perseverance and most importantly, love. She has been an important part of so many of our lives. We laughed until we cried, shared some difficult times, but through it all, we shared her unconditional love. We will love and miss her every day but will treasure all of those special memories.