Rose Smith

After nearly 92 years of life, love, laughter and tears, Rose Fisichelli Smith of Lawrence, earned her rest on April 22, 2019 succumbing to kidney and heart failure. For the past seventy years she has been a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend to virtually all with whom she came in contact.

Rose was born June 29, 1927 to the late Joseph Fisichelli and Josephine (Musumeci) who were born in Sicily. She was a 1945 graduate of Lawrence High School, and later worked for the Tyer Rubber Company in Andover. She was married to Gerald Smith in 1951 and spent many years working for IRS in Andover and later was a teaching aide in the Lawrence School System working at the Frost School prior to her retirement.

Even in her final days, her sometimes unusual view of the world, which was often intentionally displayed for comedic effect, brought laughter to those around her. She loved her family and friends more than anything, and there was always another story about her children, grandchildren, husband, and friends.

In addition to her parents, Rose was predeceased by her husband, Gerald, who died in 2004; her sister, Constance, who passed away earlier this year; and niece, Maryann (Smith) Quinn.

She leaves two sons, Stephen and his wife Janice of Slippery Rock, PA, Michael and his wife Jeannie of Salem, NH; grandchildren; her friends Erika Smith of Haverhill, MA and Jennifer Smith of Salem, NH; one great-granddaughter, Iris Mae Bouchard of Salem, NH; sister, Josephine Maille of Lowell; niece, Brenda Maille of Lowell; nephew, Joseph Vittorioso of New Port Richey, FL; niece, Elizabeth Sutton and her husband Dennis of Georgia; niece, Claire Smith of CT and Paul Smith of IA. Friends and cousins, Sylvia Elicone of North Reading, Rose Pienta of Methuen, Joseph and Sara Musumeci of North Andover, Joan Barry of FL, Mary (Pistorio) Fiorella, Joanne Schruender, Susan Muse, Peter Stopyra of Salem, NH, Pat Bradley of Somerville, Teddy Ritter of Haverhill, Brian Bouchard of Manchester, NH, her watchful neighbors, Colleen and Ron Therrien; many more friends and co-workers including her friends from Arthur’s Helping Hands.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to calling hours on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 from 4:00-7:00 PM at Cataudella Funeral home, 126 Pleasant Valley Street in Methuen. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, April 25, 2019 at 11:00 AM in the funeral home, with an hour of visitation prior to the service. Interment will be held in St. Mary-Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Lawrence following the funeral service.

In lieu of flowers please make a charitable donation to One Tail at a Time Dog Rescue or a local organization of one’s choice.