Rose Colangelo Guely

Rose Guely, nee Colangelo, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 3, at Our Lady of Mercy Life Center, Guilderland, with family by her side. She was 97 years old. Rose was born in Pietragalla (Potenza), Italy to the late Donato Colangelo and the late Angela Maria DeBonis. In 1930, she immigrated to America with her family and settled in Schenectady. She worked as a seamstress at Wooltex in Troy, NY for seven years before marrying her husband, Arthur, in 1943. While Art was in the service, they lived in Alexandria, VA where Rose worked at the Washington National Airport, and earned the nickname "Rosie the Riveter". After Art was discharged, they settled in Schenectady where they raised their three children. Rose was an active communicant of the former St. Helen's Parish (now St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish) for 60 years, where she was a member of the Rosary Altar Society and the Morning Prayer group. She especially enjoyed her Wednesday Cleaning Group of friends. Rose had also been a member and officer of the Columbiettes, and the Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus. She also volunteered at the Dominican Retreat House and the St. Vincent dePaul Society. Rose was a loving wife, mother, and sister and will always be remembered for her unending devotion to her family and her faith. She loved to cook for one and all, and found a special joy in preparing for family gatherings and holidays. As long as she was able, she would always walk through her gardens, anticipating the smallest of plants that would return every year. Rose lived her life with just the right sense of style, grace and class. Rose was predeceased by Arthur, her beloved husband of 64 yrs. She was also predeceased by her 5 sisters - Catherine Bruno (Sapri, Italy), Carmela Tarana, Constance DeCaprio, Giovanna Catalfamo and Philomena Mastrofrancisco, and 2 brothers - Veeder Colangelo (Italy) and Theodore Colangelo. Rose is survived by her loving children - Robert Guely (Bonnie Lindsay) of Trumbull, CT, Don (Martha) Guely of Schenectady, and Joan (Ken) Hawley of Seymour, CT. She is also survived by her grandchildren - Jennifer (Josh) Roman of Buffalo, NY, Gina Hawley of Seymour, CT, Casey Rosiak of Scotia, NY, and 2 great-grandchildren, Antonio and Gabriella Roman of Buffalo, NY. She is also survived by her cousins, Mary O'Brien and Catherine Sangermano, as well as many nieces and nephews. Rose was also blessed with large extended family. Services will be held on Saturday morning at 8am from the Rossi & Ditoro Funeral Home, Union at N. Jay Streets, then to St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish, Union Street, where a Mass will be celebrated at 9am. Interment will follow in St. Anthony's Cemetery, Glenville. Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the Rossi & Ditoro Funeral Home on Friday from 4 to 8 pm.

Rose Colangelo Guely

February 18, 1916 - March 3, 2013