Obituary of Rose C. Pellegrino

Longtime resident of Bridgeport and Trumbull Rose DelMonte Pellegrino, age 101, wife of the late Michael Pellegrino, passed away on Friday, February 24, 2012, at Cape Cod Hospital, Hyannis, MA. Born in Danbury, CT on October 29, 1910, she was a daughter of the late Umberto and Mary Argiro DelMonte and was a longtime resident of Bridgeport and Trumbull before moving to be near her daughter on Cape Cod. A graduate of Western Connecticut Teachers College where she received her bachelors degree, Rose had an illustrious teaching career for over 30 years in Bridgeport until her retirement in 1975. For many years after teaching, Rose was an active participant in teaching, community, and church activities helping seniors. Rose was a past president of the Greater Bridgeport Retired Teachers' Association. She established a fund that continues to award scholarships to students at fourteen area high schools. As State co-ordinator of the Association of Retired Teachers of Connecticut, she instituted a special 'Retired Teachers' Day' in the State of Connecticut. She was president of the Batchelder building fund and chaired fund raisers for the Kennedy Center and helped furnish the Carroll Apartments for the handicapped. Rose received the AARP Service Award and was the AARP District Director for Fairfield County. Rose was an instructor in the "55/Alive program and was a tax-aide volunteer. She was a past-president of the Trumbull Senior Citizens Commission, on the Advisory Board of RSVP, and introduced the 'Vile of Life' programs to Bridgeport and distributed vials! She read to children in school and read on the radio for the blind. Rose was President of St. Theresa's Senior Citizens Club, a lector and catechist for St. Theresa's Church. She was even able to work with the children until her 90th birthday. Of course, she was honored and acknowledged with many awards over the years for her meritorious volunteering services, another whole career. Survivors include a daughter, Jan Plaue of Wellfleet, MA, four grandchildren, Michele Kijak and her husband Mark of Bethlehem, PA, David Plaue and his wife Gina of Newtown, Christine Merrick of Sandy Springs, GA, Steven Merrick and his wife Lauren of Trumbull, two great grandchildren, Ben and Celia and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her daughter Jeanne M. Merrick. Funeral Information Friends are invited to meet directly in St. Theresas Church, 5301 Main St., Trumbull, on Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. for a Mass of Christian Burial. Entombment will follow in St. Michaels Chapel Mausoleum, Stratford. Family and friends may call on Tuesday from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at The Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Road, Trumbull. Donations Information In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Greater Bridgeport Retired Teachers GBRTA Scholarship Fund, C/O Mrs. Allida Finnegan, 17 Bradley Dr., Monroe, CT 06468 or to St. Theresas Church Seniors, 5301 Main St., Trumbull, CT 06611.