Mrs. Carmella P. (Viti) Rosato

ROCHESTER/WHITESBORO – Mrs. Carmella P. (Viti) Rosato, age 89, peacefully passed away on Monday, December 19, 2022. A woman of great faith, her last days were spent in the company of her loving family and she was blessed to attend Mass on her last day. Carmella was born on October 13, 1933 to the late Luigi “Louis” and Anna (Pietromartire) Viti. The family was filled with so much love from the very beginning, and Carmella shared beautiful bonds with her 4 siblings. Her older sister Yolanda in particular served as a mother figure to her. Their sibling love knew no bounds, and now that Carmella is the last of them to pass from this world to the next, their love continues on in Heaven. During her school days, Mella attended St. Mary of Mt. Carmel and Brandegee Schools and later graduated from T. R. Proctor High School in 1951. On July 9, 1955 she wed Anthony R. Rosato, the love of her life. Mella and Tony embraced their traditional roles and poured everything into forging their life together. He provided for the family and she was the homemaker. Their unconditional love shone through in everything they did, especially with her willingness to let him be the “king of his castle.” Mella took great pride in being a dedicated wife to her husband and raising five wonderful children. She always had dinner ready when Tony got home from work, and family dinners were a constant part of their lives. She made many mouth-watering meals, being most famous for her old school recipes like homemade ravioli, pizza, and many other traditional Italian dishes. Mella understood the importance of family connections, and always maintained strong relationships with her own siblings and her Rosato family. They all maintained a wonderful support system for each other and socialized often. Traditions were paramount in Mella’s life, like the trips to Sylvan Beach to visit Guy and Roz, weekly dinners with Yo and Lenny, and Friday fish fries with Dan. Family was the main focus for all of them and they got together as often as possible, attending important events, activities, birthdays, and gatherings. Mella and Tony enjoyed many years spending the winter in sunny Florida to be near their sons Steven, David, and their families. They were constantly surrounded by friends from the north and always kept busy and very active. Each year they took a trip to the east Coast to visit Mella’s brother and sister-in-law Vic and Dot. These trips all made for wonderful and unforgettable times. As life progressed, and ailments and illness presented themselves, they decided to relocate to Rochester to be closer to their daughter and son-in-law. Anthony and Carmella became members of the Friendly Senior Living Community; Anthony lived in the skilled nursing building and Carmella in the independent senior apartments. The two buildings were connected and each day she traveled the path between them with great devotion and diligence to be with her beloved husband and spend quality time together. The two shared an extraordinary relationship which continued until her beloved Anthony’s passing on January 7, 2015, after celebrating nearly 60 years of marriage. Carmella truly believed that the Lord guided her in the years after Anthony’s passing, as she remained in independent living where she blossomed and grew to know a new personhood. She appreciated the atmosphere, made new friends, and had many new adventures. Mella served as the voice of reason in her family, above all believing in showing kindness and forgiveness to others. These defining characteristics made her a beloved member of all the communities she belonged to. She had a contagious and heart-warming smile. She was non-judgmental and generous on so many levels. She also was full of gratitude and would tell people that even if the only prayer you could say is “thank you,” that was a beautiful gift of gratitude. Her pride was her children, and she brought so much love and joy to them during their lives. Above all, she taught them right from wrong and how to exercise good judgement and make good decisions. Carmella was so proud of her children, especially as they grew families of their own. Her greatest accomplishment was watching her children marry and raise twenty-one and counting beautiful grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Carmella’s Catholic faith was one of the most integral parts of her life. She was a devoted parishioner in the Catholic Community of Whitesboro at St. Paul’s Church for more than 50 years and was active in the prayer group. She lived her life knowing and loving her Lord and Savior. EWTN got her through COVID, and she spent many hours truly praying for those who knew tragedy in this world and had gone home to God, and countless others who needed prayers. She knew the magnificent power of belief in Christ and at the time of her crossing over, she held her rosary that she had used every day. Before she passed, she received the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, Last Rights, and her family recited the rosary as she passed into the hands of God. Carmella leaves behind her beloved children and their spouses, William “Bill” and Janice Rosato, Miriam and Ken Dell, Steven and Barbara Rosato, Andrew and Suzanne Rosato, and David and Michelle Rosato. Her loss is also felt by her grandchildren, Katherine and Michael DeChristopher, Anthony and Laura Rosato, and Linda Rosato; Kristin Dell and her husband Sean O’Neill, Brian and Elizabeth Dell; Nicholas Rosato, Daniel Rosato and his fiancée Fareesa Aftab, and Rachel Rosato; Theresa, and Andrew Rosato; and Christopher, Isabella, and Anthony Rosato. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren, Alex, Cory, Amy, Eric, Megan, and Brett DeChristopher; Theodore and Thomas Dell; and the anticipation of Kristin and Sean’s daughter. Her loss is also felt by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews; and her brother-in-law, Dennis Rosato and his late wife Victoria. She was preceded by her siblings and their spouses, Antoinette and Daniel Ciaola, Yolanda and Leonard Benedetto, Victor A. and Dorothy Viti, and Guy L., Sr. and Rosalind Viti, her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Olindo William and Rose (Buonsegna) Rosato; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Philip O. and Mary Ann Rosato, Daniel J. and Elen Rosato, Lucy J. and Phillip Beno, and Josephine “Lily” Rosato; niece, Janet Chetwynd; nephews, Philip W. Rosato, and Kenny Ciaiola; and her great-niece, Lesley Ann LaSalle-Haddow. Carmella had many wonderful memories of their Whitesboro neighbors, James and Karen O’Leary, and the late Charles and Harriett Martin. She will also be missed by her Rochester “extended family” at Linden Knoll and the Friendly Home. Thank you to all the family and friends who reached-out to mom over the years though phone calls, visits, and cards. These acts of kindness meant so much to her, and truly brightened her days. A special thanks is also given to Carmella’s nephew, Charlie Beno and his wife Gwen whom she kept in close contact with. Additionally, the family wishes to thank Dr. Shubha Shastry for her outstanding care and compassion, as well as the staff and residents at Linden Knoll, who were a great comfort and support over the years. The visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 27, 2022 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at the Eannace Funeral Home, Inc., 932 South St., corner of Hammond Ave. Those unable to attend may join the visitation on Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85059509356?pwd=dGwrVFNFU0orT2xDWUlkaXpVQy92UT09; Passcode: 985847. In lieu of floral offerings, memorial contributions in Carmella’s name may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital online at www.stjude.org/donate or the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception online at www.nationalshrine.org/donate; envelopes will also be available at the funeral home. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Carmella’s Mass of Christian Burial and Celebration of Life which will commence on Wednesday, December 28, 2022 at 11:30 a.m. at the Catholic Community of Whitesboro at St. Paul’s Church, 16 Park Ave., Whitesboro. Carmella will then be laid to rest in St. Agnes Cemetery. A recording of Carmella’s funeral service is available at https://youtube.com/watch?v=aN80qjgbQqA&feature=shares

Mrs. Carmella P. (Viti) Rosato

October 13, 1933 - December 19, 2022