Obituary of Rose Savoca

Rose Savoca, 98, a longtime resident of Willowbrook, passed away at Seaview Nursing Home on Friday, August 1, on the 15th anniversary of her beloved husband’s death. 

Born Rose Concetta DeSio in Newark, N.J., to immigrants from Salerno, Italy, she moved to Staten Island as a young child and attended P.S. 39 in Arrochar and McKee High School in St. George. Rose met native Staten Islander and World War II veteran William Savoca of Willowbrook in January 1946, and the couple married in September 1947. They settled in Willowbrook, building a house across the street from her husband’s childhood home, where they would raise their only child, Roseann. In addition to being a wife, mother and homemaker, Rose was employed by Glenloch Children’s Sportswear in Stapleton for 25 years. Following her retirement, Rose embraced her role as a dedicated grandmother, seeing her two grandchildren almost daily as they grew up on Staten Island.  

Rose was a parishioner of St. Rita’s R.C. Church, Meiers Corners, where she was a member of the Ladies’ Auxiliary. She liked music and dancing and particularly enjoyed listening to Italian songs by Jerry Vale and Sergio Franchi. Rose loved family gatherings, watching soap operas, chocolate and her weekly beauty parlor appointments.  

Rose’s husband, William, of 61 years died on August 1, 2009. She is survived by her daughter, Roseann Savoca, of Monroe, N.J.; her two grandchildren, Michael Steinhaus (and wife Stacy) of Huguenot and Rochelle Miller (and husband Peter) of Marlboro, N.J.; three great-grandsons, Jonathan Steinhaus, Joseph Steinhaus and Christian Miller, and dozens of nieces and nephews. She was the last survivor of her 11 siblings, having been predeceased by Stanley DeSio, Vincent DeSio; Anna (Violet) Henderson; Helena (Peggy) Vince; Robert (Al) DeSio; Rudy Desio; David DeSio; Charles DeSio; Concetta (Gloria) Barone, and Clara DiFalco.

Friends and family may pay their respects at Matthew Funeral Home in Willowbrook on Sunday, August 11, from 2 to 6 p.m. A funeral mass will take place on Monday, August 12, at 10 a.m. at St. Rita’s R.C. Church followed by burial in Fairview Cemetery, Castleton Corners.