Rose Stella Fannon

Rose Stella Fannon, 91, of New York and Lake Worth, Fla., died peacefully on Wednesday, June 11, 2014, at Kimble Farms Nursing Care Center in Lenox, with her daughter, Rose Ellis and son-in-law, Steven Green, at her side. Born on New Year's Day, 1923, she lived her formative years in Queens, N.Y. Rose's parents emigrated from Italy and she was the first generation born and educated in the USA. Her father, a talented mason, built their three-story home in Queens and it became the hub of a close-knit extended family of siblings and cousins. After high school, she pursued a career as a clothing designer. She was artistic, designed her own clothing, and created skilled handiwork. At the onset of WWII, she left school and worked in the war effort as an accomplished seamstress. She married her husband Pasquale Stella in 1946 and they had two daughters, Rose and Louise. After her husband died prematurely, Rose spent winters in Florida. She remarried, Robert Fannon, and they built a home in Lake Worth and spent 20 years together enjoying Florida, traveling, and volunteering in local nursing homes, including an Alzheimer's facility. In 2005, following Robert's death, Rose returned North and made her home at Kimball Farms Independent Living in Lenox, to be near her daughter, Rose. While at Kimball, she participated in art classes, performed readers' theater, attended local theater, and concerts at Tanglewood and lived the joie de vivre. She leaves two daughters, Rose Ellis, Superintendent of Schools, who lives in Williamstown, Mass. with her husband, Atty. Steven Green, and Louise Schreier, a long-time faculty member at RCC in Teacher Education, who lives in New City, N.Y. with her husband, Robert Schreier, a retired principal; four grandchildren, Stephanie MacInnis and her husband, Andrew, and Jessica and Michael Schreier. In 2011, Rose's first great-grandchild was born, Jackson. Rose also leaves her nephew Peter, and nieces, Nicole and Sarah, all living in New York. Rose was predeceased by a sister, Francis, who passed away 10 years ago. FUNERAL NOTICE: Rose will be interred in the family plot at Calvary Cemetery outside in Queens, N.Y., on Saturday, June 14, followed by a service for the immediate family.

Rose Stella Fannon

June 11, 1923 - June 11, 2014