To sum up the life of someone who had such a positive impact on everyone she contacted is difficult. Rosemarie (Rose) LaBue, 81, passed away on December 26th with her family at her side. Rose has been described by her friends and family as “mentor,” “confidant,” “counselor,” “strong,” “courageous,” and “best friend.” She met life head-on and was the glue that held her family together. Rose had an extraordinary sense of humor, was quick with a story or sage advice. Her presence would light up a room, and she put everyone at ease with her smile and upbeat attitude; people were drawn to her effervescence. She was thoughtful and kind to a flaw, and everyone who met her was a better person for it.

Rose was born in 1940 and grew up in the Fordham/ Arthur Ave. Section of the Bronx with her parents, Bernard and Mary, her sister Nancy, and a large extended family. She attended Roosevelt High School and graduated in 1958, where she met her first husband, Anthony “Pete” Picarillo, with whom she had her two children, Peter and Christine. They moved to Whitestone in Queens, NY, in the early 1960s to raise their family. Rose and Pete were always actively engaged parents and provided a loving, healthy home for their children. Rose and Pete went their separate ways later in life but remained friends and committed to their children.

Rose met Roy LaBue in the late 1980s and worked at his accounting firm in the Bronx. Later, the two fell in love, moved to Palm Coast, Florida, and were married in 1988. Together they opened a successful Pinch-a-Penny pool supply franchise. Roy was good for Rose; he kept her laughing and was her “Rock.” After only four (4) years, Roy passed away unexpectedly at 53, leaving Rose heartbroken.

Shortly after Roy’s passing, Rose’s first grandchild Matthew (Peter), was born in 1992, followed by Alexandra (Christine) in 1995, and Faith (Christine) in 1999. Rose was suddenly “Nana Rose,” a role she relished until her final day. Rose loved her grandchildren profoundly and became a role model for them. She was so proud of the adults they had become; little did she realize the positive effect she had on them.

In 2005, Rose and her dear friend Bernard “Bernie” Axelrod decided to buy a home in Milford, PA, to escape the Florida summers. At the same time, Christine, her husband Robert “Bob” Jennings, and her family decided to follow their lead and move from Florida to Dingman’s Ferry, PA. With Peter and his wife, Susan, only an hour away in New Paltz, NY, Rose’s family was now closer and more accessible than ever. After Bernie’s passing in 2011, Rose took solace in family and her favorite activity, cooking. Cooking was her creative outlet; she always made sure everyone was well-fed and constantly experimented with recipes. She couldn’t wait to tell you what she made and that she saved some for you to take home. Rose never really learned how to cook for one person because “you never know who might stop by.”

After selling her Milford home, she moved into the Westfall Senior Apartments in Matamoras, PA, where she proudly lived independently. Her sister Nancy moved to Westfall shortly thereafter. When together, they were fondly referred to by family as “the bookends.”

Rose became very active in regional senior citizen groups, where she made many acquaintances and some dear close friends. To the very end, Rose was true to her nature, living life on her own terms, a gregarious, loving, giving, caring soul who would do anything for you. In that sense, she was most true to her Roman Catholic faith; it was the essence of the person she was and the core values of what she passed down to her family. She will always and forever remain in our hearts.

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