Obituary: Rose Marie LaCivita Santoro, 98, of Branford

Obituary courtesy of W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home:

Rose Marie LaCivita Santoro died peacefully on October 15, 2021 in Branford, Connecticut. She was predeceased by her husband of 71 years, Patsy Francis Santoro. Rose was born in Walpole, Massachusetts on June 1, 1923. Rose and Patsy Lived in Norwood, MA until 1969 when they moved to Branford, CT.

Rose loved to tell people that she was one of 13 children, and boast about how loving her parents were.

Rose loved playing tennis until well into her 80s. When the tennis court got a little too big, she and her tennis buddies, most of them well over 65 years old, started playing table tennis on a regular basis. Rose loved spending time with family and friends. She loved to cook for family and friends and entertain. Rose and Patsy loved to travel. They had visited Europe a number of times, seen much of the United States, and visited their children and grandchildren who live in Alaska, Maine, and New Hampshire.

Among Rose’s “mother-daughter” group, she was known to give the best hugs. For over 27 years Rose was one of five “mothers” in a group that her daughter, Patricia, and her girlfriends hosted a few times a year. The “daughters” would cook elaborate dinners for the mother-daughter group for Mother’s Day, Christmas, and other random get togethers during the year. Rose was the last surviving mother to the group. The daughters would all comment on just how good Rose’s hugs were; often called magical, making you feel like you were hugged by an angel. We’ll miss those hugs.

Rose is survived by her daughter, Patricia Santoro of Branford, Connecticut; her son Bruce and daughter-in-law Darlene, of Madison, Maine; her son Patsy Jr. (Hap) and daughter-in-law Barbie, of Anchorage, Alaska; and her son Ralph and daughter-in-law, Paula of Moultonborough, New Hampshire. Rose is also survived by eight wonderful grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. Rose is predeceased by twelve siblings. Visitation and funeral will be held at Kraw-Kornack Funeral Home, Norwood, MA one day next week.