Obituary for Rose Burgio

January 12, 1910 - April 20, 1997

By Kathy DeSantis, #1 Granddaughter

      Rose Burgio, beloved mother of Eileen DeSantis and mother-in-law of 1^st National Vice President Frank DeSantis, grandmother and great grandmother passed away on April 20 on the way home from a Renaissance Lodge celebration with family and friends.  She was a woman of admirable strength and vitality.  She was still able to garden, cook, shop, clean house and be involved with her family of daughter, son-in-law, five grandchildren and three in-law grandchildren and great granddaughter.  Her most recent source of joy came from being with her first great grandchild, Christina DeSantis.

   Never wanting to be idle, Rose was very active in the Renaissance Lodge of the Order Sons of Italy in Orange, CA, over the past 20 years and held the position of “Sunshine Lady” for at least four of those years and Trustee for one year.  She was delighted to be part of the Lodge and had many wonderful friends.

   Being of good health and not wanting to miss out on any fun, Rose donated her time every Labor Day holiday at the annual Orange Street Fair with her family and friends from the Lodge selling pizza and soda.  Remarkably, she worked from beginning to end, no matter the soaring temperature.   She also assisted her grandchildren at their management business several days a month, mostly to spend time with them.  She was affectionately known as “Nana, our Office Angel.”  Her presence and sense of humor added much fun and joy to our lives.  She enjoyed taking short trips with her granddaughters and attending the Sons of Italy conventions with her daughter and son-in-law.   In 1994 her granddaughter Kathy took her to Easton, Pennsylvania, her hometown, to visit her two sisters, Lucy and Ange, and become acquainted with new family members.  It was Rose’s first real visit back in over 30 years.  She and her sisters spent three days sharing many vivid memories of their lives as children.  They joked and laughed a lot then cried when Rose had to leave.  In 1996 she was voted “Woman of the Year” by the Renaissance Lodge members and at the same time was bestowed a trophy for “Grandmother of the Year” at the Mother’s Day Lodge meeting an event that made her feel loved and appreciated.

   Rose was born in Sommatino, Sicily.  Her parents immigrated to Pennsylvania when she was ten years old, along with two brothers and two sisters.  Leaving school at 14 years of age, (as was done by many 14 year-olds then)  she started work in a nylon stocking factory in Easton.  One of  her friends was Margaret Luparelli,  the mother of her future son-in-law, Frank.  Together they  worked at the factory and slid down icy hills in the winter  to get to work.  Rose worked in the factory for many years until she met Joseph Burgio, a dashing distant relative of the Mazzarese family, also from Sicily.   

They decided to marry, but Joseph longed for a sunny climate, so he moved to California in 1936 to earn a living and prepare for Rose to join him.  In 1937, Rose left her family and traveled alone to California.  She and Joseph were married on April 20, 1937.  Sadly, Joseph passed away in 1991.  They would have been married 60 years on April 20.  Rose missed her husband terribly but found much comfort and support in her family and friends from the Lodge.

   Rose gave us many beautiful gifts - her loyalty, friendship, love of life and hard work, an example of a wonderful life.  Rose will always be remembered because of the ways she touched our hearts.  We will miss her dearly.  The family asks that instead of flowers, a memorial be sent in Rose’s name for the OSIA Renaissance Lodge Scholarship Fund, c/o 1950 Old Tustin Avenue, Santa Ana, CA  92705.

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Kathy DeSantis © 2005