AUNT ROSIE
Eulogy of Rose Skala
Written & Read by:
Caoline Joanne Laurie-O'Brein
(neice to Rose)
On December 12th, 1921 the second child of immigrant, Italian parents,
Sam Lazzaro and Concetta Ianni was born - they named her Rose.
Born in a house at 3913 Orange Ave. behind Case Woodland School,
Rose�s humble beginnings, there in the home of the Cala�s were shared
with her lifelong friend of 80 years, Caroline Lombardo - Our Aunt Carol.
This area of town now the Food Terminal at 40th and Woodland was then known as Big Italy
and proud Italians they were. Mary, the oldest & Josephine the baby, along with Rose grew up with values expected of their Italian heritage - love of family and friends and food . But number one was respect! Respect in those days meant more than minding your manners�. It meant
care-giving, visiting the sick and lending a hand to others when needed. Aunt Rosie never forgot that! Rose and her sisters followed their parents as members of the San Leone Society. They
went to all of the Lodges Christmas parties & packed the clothes basket with Nana�s Basta
(that�s Sicilian for Pasta) as it traveled out to the county to Slapnica�s farm for the annual
summer picnics. Aunt Rosie loved those memories.
Rose lived up to the characteristics of the middle child. She became a good mediator & quite the negotiator - she was a peace maker of sorts. You see, Mary was always in trouble with Grandpa
and needed an alibi. Josie needed to be protected because she was the baby and Rose provided the stability amongst them. The sisters were a fun loving group & had many friends. As young adults they loved to go dancing. They would frequent the Pinwheel. One night while sneaking in the house in the wee hours of the morning - our Grandpa was quoted as hollering to our Nana! CONCHETTA _ E MASCULI C RE_GAM_PINO or to Concetta the boys - are coming in! The girls got caught- it was Aunt Rosie who calmed him down & provided the explanation- they had missed the street car.
Our Aunt Carol tells us the story that Rose met Larry Skala while waitressing at the Pinwheel before the war. Larry hung out there with his buddies Pat Licht, Rocky Laurie & Joe Menta to name a few. Soon after the war ended & the servicemen came home- Uncle Joe was told by the timed & soft spoken Larry Skala that he had a girlfriend- Rose Lazzaro- he was one of Joe�s old friends that he danced with at the Pinwheel who was now working at luce-Nevil.
Larry Skala married the beautiful Rose Lazzaro on January 26th, 1946. Aunt Caroline Lombardo and Joe Menta stood up for them. Rosie unbeknownst to anyone, was trying to �fix up� the two
of them- or in Sicilian make a �bashath� she succeeded- although it took a little time.
On September 7th, 1947, Rose and Larry�s dream came true and Frank, their only child,
was born while living on Revere Ave. in Cleveland. Rose and Larry longed for a �true homestead of their own and bought a parcel of land in Maple Hts on Friend Ave on June 4th, 1948. Rose
quickly took on a new role besides being a devoted mother she became the general contractor.
She drove in those days (an unusual accomplishment back then for a women in her twenties). During the day she�d pick up supplies, nails, bolts, screws whatever- and deliver the goods. At night & on weekends she would return with Larry to hammer away. A home was built & there
she happily stayed. Rose became everyone�s favorite �Aunt�. The Laurie�s, Licht�s, the Toth�s
the Zingales, the Dottore�s, all loved to visit & be spoiled by Auntie Rosie. She�d make us her favorite recipes- cream puffs- did we want custard or lemon or chocolate cherry brownies!
And for Connie - DO-DO�S. She loved everyone unconditionally�. Especially the children.
We were "hers" when we were there!
In later years our ailing grandparents came to live with Rose -
she took care of them till their deaths.
She firmly & lovingly fulfilled their every need.
In their later years Rose and Larry moved to Mentor and then back to a place on Ranchland, to retire in Mayfield Hts.. There Rose & Larry nourished each other - he with Emphysema & she
later with a stroke. After Larry passed away- Roses final homestead was �Manor Care� of Mayfield Hts.. It was there that her sister Josie, my mom, took on a part-time job. Everyday she would bring her jello, Biscotti cookies, Puzzles & even anchovie pizza from the Lodge.
Aunt Rose now had to rely on the help & loving services of the dedicated staff there� she never changed- she loved them too! She never complained, she always smiled & she was ever so humble.
And then on December 8th, 2002 in the wee hours of the morning, God took her home to be with the Angels and I imagine that she�s at her own birthday party in Heaven, surrounded by everyone she loved- Uncle Larry, Nana, Grandpa, Aunt Mary, Uncle Pat, Uncle Joe, Rocky Laurie, Aunt Florence & Gertie, Alex, Sean, Frank Lazzara, Paul Lazzara, Mater Conchetta, Aunt Bessie, Elmer Dula & a host of others! For today would have been her 81st Birthday.
one that I thought might be a constant reminder
of our everlasting love for her.
TODAY I THOUGHT OF YOU
Today I thought of rosy petals
Gleaming in the sun
And I thought about happiness
You bring to everyone.
Today I thought of fragrant roses
Sparking, fresh with dew
Gathered in the early dawn
And then I thought of you.
For the longer you�re a friend of mine
The oftener I find
That all lovely things I see
Bring thoughts of you to mind!
Goodbye Auntie Rosie
We will find you somewhere in time!
Save us a place!
You Were Always The One
That Got There First!!
