Rose M. "Rosie" (DiMarco) Danese

Rose M. “Rosie” (DiMarco) Danese, of Ashland, died suddenly at her home, surrounded by her loving family on Monday, July 17, 2023. She was 94.

Rose was born in New York City, Manhattan, New York on September 24, 1928, and was the daughter of the late Joseph and Anna (Gottuso) DiMarco. She was raised in Manhattan and at the age of 13, her parents moved their family to Utica, New York, where she attended local schools.

As a young woman, Rosie was a USO volunteer, and met her future husband Carmen, at one of the USO dances. Rosie loved to dance, and this is how she and Carmen fell in love. After Carmen was honorably discharged from the Army, he would devoutly drive the Mass Pike from Framingham, Massachusetts to Utica, New York to visit his sweetheart. The two were soulmates and have been together since 1954. Rosie and Carmen were married on September 8, 1956, at St. Mary of Mount Carmel Church in Utica, New York. Together they have shared 69 loving years of partnership.

In 1956, Rosie and Carmen purchased their home in Ashland, where they raised their family. A homemaker, Rosie raised her family where she lived for over 67 years. She raised her children, cared for her eight grandchildren, and her five great grandchildren. Rosie was the Matriarch of three generations. 

Rosie loved games of all kinds. She enjoyed playing cards, playing poker on her handheld device, dominoes, and most of all, weekly Bingo. She and Carmen loved going to the track every week and watching sports on the television. Her favorite was watching The Patriots and Tom Brady.

From dancing, watching game shows, playing games, collecting costume jewelry earrings, and reading romantic novels, Rosie’s love for travel was by far her favorite. Her favorite place to be was Florida. From a young age, she and Carmen were snowbirds and loved to live part time in the sunshine state. When they were younger, the two owned a camper and would drive from Ashland to Florida with the family. As they aged, they sold the camper, but kept up the tradition and would drive to Florida every year after Christmas and would return sometime in April. It was always an exciting day when Rosie and Carmen returned home. Their children and grandchildren would flock to the family home to visit.

Summers at Rosie’s house made for wonderful memories. Rosie loved to swim. So, in the summer, she would have all her grandchildren with her at the house and after watching the Price is Right and doing summer reading, Rosie and the grandchildren would make their way to the pool. She would take her time easing her way into the pool’s cool water, yelling out as she took each step down the ladder. The kids would swim around her, as she would do her exercises. In the afternoon, lunch would be served and if the grandchildren were good, she would make iced coffee in frosted mugs for everyone. The day would always end with fudgsicles, one of her favorite treats.

The most important part of Rosie’s life was her family. She loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren more than anything. Her family made her proud and they all gave her the most enjoyment in her life. Rosie’s life lessons and example are part of her legacy that continue through her family. She will be missed by all the lives she touched.

Rosie was the beloved wife of Carmen J. Danese of Ashland. She was the devoted mother of Roseann Rinaldo and her partner Matthew Tomasz of Ashland, Michele Haley and her husband Christopher of Framingham, Angela Danese-Harding of Westboro, and Susan Congdon and her husband William of Franklin. Rosie was the loving grandmother of Michael Rinaldo and his wife Kathryn Manley Rinaldo of Hopkinton, Jenna O’Reilly and her husband Thomas of Ashland, John Congdon and his partner Ashley Rivera of Quincy, Faith Keefe and her husband Jamie of Milford, Jessica Bancewicz and her husband Derek of Grafton, Erinn Harding and her partner Ty McDonald of Westboro, Sarah Haley and her partner Derrick Hollis of Framingham, and the late R.J. Sutherland, who died in 2011. She was the loving great grandmother of Mason and Jordyn O’Reilly, Evan and Ethan Rinaldo and Jaxson Keefe. Rosie was the dear sister of the late Benny DiMarco, the late Mario DiMarco and his surviving wife Kathy of New York, and the late Anna Eller. She is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.

Visiting hours will be held at Norton Funeral Home, 53 Beech Street, (Corner of Union Avenue) Framingham, on Sunday (July 23, 2023) from 2 until 5 PM.

Funeral from the Norton Funeral Home, 53 Beech Street, (Corner of Union Avnue) Framingham, Monday (July 24, 2023) at 9 AM, followed by a Funeral Mass to be celebrated in St. George Catholic Church, 74 School St., Framingham, at 10 AM. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend.  Services will conclude with private cremation.

Rosie will be interred privately in Saint Tarcisius Cemetery, Framingham, at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Rosie’s name to The Jimmy Fund c/o Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, PO Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168.

Please visit www.NortonFuneralHome.com for directions and online condolences. 

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