Rosa Maria "Rosemary" (Lapertosa) Trisolino

Mrs. Rosa Maria “Rosemary” (Lapertosa) Trisolino, age 81, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 28, 2014 at the Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare Center with her loved ones by her side. Born in Utica on March 3, 1933, Rosa Maria was the daughter of the late Ottavio and Antonia (Dormio) Lapertosa. She attended T.R. Proctor High School and completed her studies with the Class of 1951. She then continued her education at the St. Elizabeth Hospital School of Nursing and graduated in 1954 which was an important time and milestone in her life. Upon the completion of her Internship at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, she became a Registered Nurse which opened the doors to a lifetime of caring for others. On September 29, 1962 she married Joseph D. Trisolino, Jr., and as she delightfully declared, “Life with Mr. Jay was always interesting!” Rosemary wore her wedding ring until she passed, a telling testament to the 43 years they shared until Jay’s passing on December 6, 2005. Rosemary began her life’s work as a nurse for Dr. Frank Leone, M.D., a wonderful and influential working relationship that enhanced her life. She then accepted a position at the St. Elizabeth Medical Center where she enjoyed a 40-year career as a Registered Nurse, Charge Nurse, and Discharge Planning Coordinator, retiring in the early 1980’s. She also served as a House Mother at the St. Elizabeth School of Nursing, sharing with students the wisdom she accrued over the years, and giving them encouragement to succeed. As the matriarch of her family, Rosa leaves a great legacy of love, understanding, and maternal goodness. She was sensitive, compassionate, and truthful, yet her core values always won out in any decision she made. She was intuitive and always knew what to do at all times. She was the mother who drove her kids and their friends to a concert, and was always there to bring them home. She maintained a unique relationship with each of her children, her grandchildren, and her siblings. She was also a true friend, held in the hearts of those she brought into her circle of life. And if you were in Rosemary’s life, you were at her table. Her children couldn’t think of one time in which the doors to their home weren’t open to friends in need to share a meal, or to use the family’s encyclopedia library. Although she was humorous and witty, she was sensitive to scornful negativity and condescending criticism. She was fiercely independent and brave in the face of adversity. Like a steel magnolia, she was soft-hearted, but strong-willed. With her edgy sense of humor, she was the incontestable queen of comments and one-liners. She honored family gatherings and hosted the holidays. She kept up with technology and the times --- she loved Facebook, connecting with relatives, relating good news, and enjoyed the laughs and jokes. She had a fondness and empathy for her house pets, especially Dozer, the “Prince of Dogs”. She enjoyed the simple pleasures of life – a drive to take in the beauty of the fall foliage, and deer by the side of the road, and she could name homesteads and families as if she were giving a history lesson of East Utica. She was an avid reader of medical material, mysteries, and love stories. She was a Boston Red Sox fan, but respected the fact that her son was a New York Yankee fan, often causing a phone call to comment on defeat or glory. Rosemary was proud of her Italian heritage and the hearty work ethic and traditions that were honored heirlooms of her ancestors. Rosemary’s spirituality and Catholicism inspired and directed her life, and her faith was rock solid. She attended First Friday Adoration and was a member of the St. Theresa Society at her home parish, St. Anthony & St. Agnes Church, an affiliation that dates back over three generations and 100 years of her family’s devotion to St. Anthony of Padua parish. She was supportive of all church services and festivals, and was always available to offer her hospitality and time. She was a member of the St. Elizabeth Alumni Association and through her participation with the T.R. Proctor High School Reunion Committee, she was able to keep ties with friendships that were formed 50 years ago. Looking back, Rosemary lived her life hoping that the Lord would say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Enter into your rest!” Rosa is survived by her daughter, Lisa C. Roach of Clark Mills and Bernard Morosco; and her son, Joseph Trisolino III of Utica, affectionately known as “Genesee Joe”; Rosa was so proud of his long term and entertaining radio career. She also leaves her cherished grandchildren, Matthew and Sara Hofmann-Roach who resided with Rosa (Sara was a wonderful companion and caregiver to her Nonna), Sarah and Rick Sabin, and Amanda Roach and fiancé Trevor Goodenough; and her 3 great-grandchildren who Rosemary saw as stars in the sky, Logan, and Juliana Roach; and Leah Sabin. She will also be remembered by her sister, Lorenza “Laura” Zizio; her brother, Angelo Lapertosa, for whom she provided loving and supportive guidance for many years; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, and in-laws, Kathleen Lapertosa, Angela “Lee” LaBella, Gina and Luca Esposito, Elaine and David Seeley, and Juliann and Michael Houghton. Rosemary was blessed with a host of wonderful friends from all walks of life, and she will be missed and remembered by many. She was predeceased by her brother, Francesco “Frank” Lapertosa; her niece, Celia Zizio; and her in-laws, Casimir Zizio, Moses LaBella, Lucille Trisolino, Celestine Surace, Marie Johnson, and Sebastian Trisolino. The family is grateful to Nurse Practitioner Karen Rounds-Clarey who offered her support and friendship to Rosemary; Dr. Timothy LaFonte; the staff of the Masonic Care Community of NY/Saratoga Household who gave the family the ability and confidence to care for Rosemary during her stay; the personnel of the Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare Center ICOU who did everything that anyone could ask for, and their kindness shined as a beacon of hope; and the staff of the CCU who gave Rosemary a dignified and peaceful passage. The family honored Rosa’s life at a private time. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Rosemary's funeral service and Celebration of Life which will commence on Saturday morning at 10:30 at St. Anthony & St. Agnes Church where her Mass of Christian Burial will be offered by Rev. Mark Kaminski and Deacon William Dischiavo. The family will receive visitors at the conclusion of the service. By family request, please omit flowers. Interment will take place in Calvary Cemetery at the convenience of the family.

Rosa Maria "Rosemary" (Lapertosa) Trisolino

March 3, 1933 - December 28, 2014