Obituary: Rose Russo DeVeau, 93, longtime resident of Guilford

Obituary courtesy of Guilford Funeral Home:

Rose Russo DeVeau longtime resident of Guilford passed away peacefully on January 4, 2022. Wife of the late Emil J. DeVeau, Rose was born in New Haven on January 6, 1928, daughter of the late Pasquale and Antoinette (Basilicato) Russo. Loving mother of Paula DeVeau and her husband John Tarutis of Guilford and the late Emil J. DeVeau, Jr. She is also survived by four grandchildren, Michelle DeVeau, James DeVeau, Andria West (Moshay) and Natalie Hambor (Matthew) and two great grandchildren Marlon Ward and Mes-siah West. Sister of Pasquale Russo, Anthony (Jane) Russo, and Joseph (Marilyn) Russo all of Guilford and Angela (Carmen) Vegliante of Cheshire. Predeceased by five brothers, Andrew, Vincent, Stephen, Robert and Richard and a sister, Anna Maria (Mary) Dohm.

Rose arrived in Guilford at the age of four. As a result of the depression her parents had moved their family out of New Haven to the farm on Nut Plains Road. Rose instantly loved Guilford. She enjoyed playing with her siblings in the expansive countryside and swimming in the stream behind the fields. She never lost her love of Guilford, making it her forever home after marriage and raising her children there. Rose attended the Guilford School system and enjoyed all aspects of school, from academics to sports. She particularly enjoyed playing on the girls’ basketball team at Guilford High School from which she graduated in 1946.

Having a keen sense of style, Rose worked as a sales manager at Lady Guilford, a women’s clothing store in town. Later in life, she worked as the office manager for her brothers’ construction companies, RAJ and RCK builders.

Rose loved her family dearly and felt a great commitment to always be available to assist and guide them as best she could. She especially loved spending time with her grandchildren. She was proud of her Italian heritage and for several years was an active member of the local Italian American Club.

A devout Catholic, Rose was a lifelong communicant of St. George Church in Guilford. Upon retirement, she was able to become more involved and greatly enjoyed her time spent with the church. She belonged to the women’s group and assisted with food preparation for functions and charities as well as other supportive roles. Rose became a Eucharistic Minister and assisted with communion at mass as well as delivery to the homebound. She also was a perpetually professed member of the Shoreline Secular Franciscans.

Rose was very supportive of her husband Emil’s role as an Elk, spending many weekends at the Westbrook Elks Club. She assisted in social events, fundraising and altruistic causes. Rose spent much of her life giving to people and causes dear to her. She and her feisty spirit will be missed by her family and the many lives she touched.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. George Catholic Church in Guilford on Friday January 14th at 10:00 AM and Burial to follow at Alder Brook Cemetery, 375 Boston Street, Guilford.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. George Catholic Church Food Pantry.