Rose Marie Edwards

Rose Marie Edwards, 96, daughter of Joseph and Maria DePhillips of Corleto Perticari, Italy, died on June 15, 2014, at St. Francis Hospital after a short illness. Rose had most recently been a resident of the Hughes Health and Rehabilitation in West Hartford along with her sister Annette Cerasole, who passed away on June 13, 2014. Love of family was a hallmark of Rose’s life which began tenuously in the 1918 flue epidemic with her birth, and the near death of her mother. Raised in the south end of Hartford, along with 4 siblings and 7 cousins, she grew up in a time of little money but lots of love and community. Rose graduated from Bulkeley High School and secretarial school and would eventually spend her work life at various departments of the State of CT. She retired from the State Legislature where she typed up bills and brought cheer (and lots of food) to her co workers, well into her 70’s. Rose married Allen Edwards of Little Rock, AK in 1943, in a blizzard, while he was on leave from the Groton sub base. She spent the next 20 years traveling in pursuit of Ed’s career as a naval CPO. Along with their only child, Robert, they shared many happy years in French Morocco, South Carolina, Key West, Newport and Hawaii, before his retirement and their return to Hartford. Rose’s second career was the care and management of her “gift store” in the basement of their home. Nothing gave her more pleasure than gift giving and no one ever left her home without a “little something” and ‘no thank you” was never an option! No birthday of family or friend passed without a special card and gift. She loved to cook her wonderful pasta dinners and it was agreed...she made the best sauce. Her name befitted her personality as “Rosie” was always a beautiful, cheerful and gracious woman who rarely raised her voice in anger and possessed a captivating smile. She dearly loved her grandchildren and raised “spoil” to new levels! Grandma’s house was a place of good smells, unlimited treats, full control of the TV and endless wonderful memories. In addition to work, Rose cared for her mother at home, until her death at age 104. Rose was predeceased by her husband Allen and 3 siblings, Frank DePhillips, Prospero DePhillips of Wethersfield and Annette Cerasole of West Hartford. She is survived by her son Robert of Jupiter, Florida and Falmouth, MA, his wife Karin, her granddaughter Liz Edwards of West Hartford, her grandson Daniel of Falmouth, MA, his wife Cathleen and their two children Sam and Charlotte. She is also survived by her sister Roccina Sapienza of New Hampshire, her nephew, Thomas Sapienza of New Hampshire, his wife Lisa and their children Marie, TJ and Meghan; her niece Lori Coffin of Colchester, her husband Brad and their children, Mallory, Jared and Jason; her niece Pamela Toombs of NYC, her husband Norman and their children Allison and Courtney; her nephew Joseph DePhillips of Washington, DC. She will be missed by her two remaining cousins, Antoinette Comer of East Hartford and Eleanor Murphy of Wethersfield and their families and her closest and most beloved friend Donna Varney of Houston, Texas. Special thanks to the staff of the Hughes Convalescent in West Hartford who provided loving and professional care to Rose and her sister Annette. The funeral for both Rose and Annette will be Saturday, June 21, at 9:15 a.m. from the Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Ave., with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 872 Farmington Ave., West Hartford. Burial will follow in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. Calling hours are Friday, June 20, from 5-7 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Food Banks of Wethersfield or West Hartford. Online expressions of sympathy may be made at www.molloyfuneralhome.com