Rose M

Ranaudo

Ranaudo, Rose – June 23, 1938 – December 21, 2019

Beloved Mother, Wife, Nonna, Sister, Aunt, Daughter and Friend, the true matriarch of her family, Rose was also known as the Contessa.  Born Rosa Maria Mele to parents Giovanna and Graziano in the picturesque village of Sant' Arsenio, Salerno, Italy she immigrated to the US in April 1956 with her family. The loss of her mother Giovanna to cancer shortly after their arrival at age 19 greatly impacted her life and she became the mother figure to her younger siblings, Giovanni, Luigi and Francesca.

While working at Evan-Picone as a designer seamstress she met and married her

life-long love, Gennaro Ranaudo, from Avellino, Italy on January 27, 1962.  Soon after her first daughter Gianna came into the world followed by her daughter Angela and her son Virgil.  Raising her children brought Rose her greatest joy and she quickly became immersed in motherhood, homemaking and the school's PTA. Her home was always impeccable and decorated with a great source of beauty and pride. Rose was the original Domestic Diva and a phenomenal chef who mastered the oldest and most difficult dishes from Italy.  Her meatballs became famous throughout New Jersey when she served lunch at her children's schools. Her Cheesecakes, Pastiera cakes, Struffoli and Christmas cookies were unrivaled.  At every holiday Rose made the most delicious delicacies and traditional foods, uniting all her family and friends through her love of cooking. She was a force of life both in and out of the kitchen.  And if you needed a dress she would design and sew one for you overnight.  Needless to say she was the light in her family's lives and will never fade from their memory nor kitchens.  Her grand-children Dante, Ava, Gabriella, Lexi, Vincent, Rhys & Jonathan were the absolute joys of her life and could always bring a smile to her face.  She would drop everything to babysit and feed each one and would happily boast about each and every accomplishment. Along with Gennaro she was so proud of her family, a devoted mother till the very end.

Rose was an active member and a former president of The Dante Alighieri Society of Central Jersey, a group of women dedicated to the preservation of Italian culture and community service to those in need.  She was an international Italian- American woman with a family home in Italy, a lover of education with a flair for languages, an avid reader who loved history and a talented storyteller with a gift for being dramatic. After 45 years of living in Monmouth County, Rose and Gennaro moved to West Palm Beach, Florida as well as Bedford NY.   Living life to its fullest with her family was always Rose's way.

Rose was predeceased by her beloved husband, Gennaro and leaves behind her 3 children, Gianna, Angela and Virgil; their spouses Chazz, Paul and Elizabeth; her grandchildren Dante, Ava, Gabriella, Lexi, Vincent, Rhys and Jonathan; her siblings Giovanni, Luigi and Francesca and their children; her sister in law Antoinette and the rest of Gennaro's siblings; and more family and friends than there is space to mention. Rose was loved until her last breath and died peacefully with her entire family at her side. She was a force of love and strength to her family and will be tremendously missed.  Funeral Mass will be on Tuesday December 24 ^th at 11am at Madonna Church on the Hill, 270 Hoefleys Lane, Fort Lee, NJ.  Entombment to follow at Madonna Mausoleum in Fort Lee.