Obituary of Rosaria "Rose" Ann Gross

Obituary Obituary for Rose Ann Gross November 14, 1923 – December 9, 2021 Fort Collins, CO Age 98 Loving Mother, Grandmother, Wife, Sister, Niece, Cousin, Friend Rosaria “Rose” Gross (Gasparre), 98, passed away at her home in Fort Collins, CO on December 9, 2021. Rosaria was born November 14, 1923, in a tenement apartment on Hester Street in Brooklyn, New York. She was the sixth of Anna and Francesco Gasparre’s ten children. As first generation of her Italian immigrant parents, she was known as Rose to her friends and siblings. At the age of seven, her mother died during childbirth and Rose assumed household duties, while her father and older brothers held jobs to support the large family during the Great Depression. Rose’s first paid job was as an executive assistant at the National Association of Manufacturers. Her boss thought she had potential to move up in the company, but Rose fell in love. At the age of 19, she met Lewis Leroy Gross, a Navy Chief Petty Officer, during World War ll, she married on her 20th birthday and left New York City soon after. Rose moved to San Francisco and alongside many women at the time, worked at a job to support the war effort. Living in San Francisco was an adventure to the young bride and allowed her to see Lewis when his ship, the U.S.S Intrepid, was in port. After the war the couple lived in New York City, Michigan, Connecticut, California, Nevada, and Florida before settling in Phoenix, AZ where she lived over 50 years. Rose was the beloved mother of five children, Ronald L. Gross, Christine L. Gross, Shanti Shanti Kaur, Michael A. Gross, and Army Seargent First Class Millie L. Gross (Stefanie Hofmann, partner). Rose and Lewis were married 55 years, until Lewis’s death in 1998. Rose had a lifelong love of reading and took her children with her to the library or the book mobile, to awaken them to the joy of discovery that reading often brings. She enjoyed swimming, bingo, and was an excellent canasta player. Rose had a love of travel and was able to visit the hometown of her parents, Bitonto, Italy on two occasions. One of her greatest memories was meeting the Rat Pack, especially Frank Sinatra. Near the time of her passing, Rose said that her five children are what she is most proud of in her life. Rose is survived by her children, five grandchildren, four great grandchildren and her sister, Gloria Cardone. She is preceeded in death by her parents, eight siblings and one granddaughter. Per her request, there will be no funeral service. Services You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or by planting a memorial tree in the memory of Rosaria "Rose" Ann Gross