• Date Of Birth: November 20, 1917
  • Date Of Death: March 11, 2015
  • State: New Jersey

Rose M. Girardo (nee Caltabiano), on March 11, 2015, of Washington Twp. Age 97. Beloved wife of the late James J. “Jack”. Devoted mother of Salvatore (Margaret), Maria Rutolo (Frank), Mario (Lillian), James B. (Angela) and Anthony (Toni). Loving grandmother of Jeffrey, Rebecca, Jennifer, Gregory, Linda, Michael, Richard, James, Christopher, Nicholas and Natalie. Proud great-grandmother of Brooks, Tyler, Jack, Frank, William, Gregory, Matthew, Sam, Lucy, Gianna, Ethan and Giovanni.

Rose was born in 1917 in Philadelphia to Mariano & Alfia Caltabiano. She had an older brother Alfred. Only one year later, Mariano died in a tragic farming accident. Alfia eventually married
Pasquale Russo, and they had a daughter Nicolina. Rose attended school in Philadelphia and graduated from Southern High School. Although she grew up in Philadelphia, she was proud to tell everyone that she was a farmer, because she spent much of her youth working with her family on farms in the Mullica Hill area. She loved to tell stories about her days picking tomatoes and asparagus. She didn’t have to go far to meet her future husband, Jack Girardo. He grew up two doors down from her on Washington Avenue. Rose and Jack started dating in high school and eventually married on July 4, 1942, and remained married for 65 years, until Jack’s passing in 2007. They raised five children together. After her children were grown, she worked alongside Jack in South Philadelphia at the Italian Market in the fruit and produce business for 40 years. She was very active at St. Paul’s Church and school. As her children grew and married, she became a dedicated grandmother to 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Her focus in life was always on her family, first and foremost, hosting family holidays and celebrations.

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