Rosalie Tortorici

Madison - Rosalie Marie Tortorici, age 100, passed into eternal salvation on December 9, 2011, at the Waunakee Manor Health Care Center, in Waunakee.
She was born June 22, 1911 in Madison, the daughter of the late Carmelo and Giacoma (Caronna) Oliva. Rosalie married William Tortorici on April 23, 1932 at St. Mary's Church in Wausau, the Reverend Father J.B. Hauck officiating.
At age two Rosalie and her family moved to Mosinee, where they purchased a 640 acre farm.
Rosalie attended a one room schoolhouse through 3rd grade, and 4th grade at St. Mary's Catholic School in Wausau.
At age ten her family moved back to Madison and she continued her education through 9th grade at Longfellow School. Rosalie studied Home Economics at the Madison Vocational School and at age sixteen she and her family moved back to their farm in Mosinee, where they continued to farm until 1930.
Moving to Wausau during the Depression, Rosalie obtained work at a local shoe factory and was later employed at the Wausau Paper Mill, and then the Wausau Rubber Plant where she sewed military uniforms.
After her marriage, the couple eventually purchased a home on College Court in the old Greenbush District of Madison. The home is one of the few still remaining in this historic area.
Rosalie was active within the St. Joseph's School PTA and was it's president in 1943. She also served on numerous committees within the school and church curriculum.
During her earlier married years, she held several jobs, at J.C. Penney, DiSalvo's Spaghetti House, Quality Laundry and Justo's Supper Club.
In 1957, Rosalie, her husband and disabled son, Victor, moved to Middleton. Shortly thereafter, Victor's daughter, Paulette, of pre-school years would join them until her marriage in 1974.
While caring for her disabled son and raising her granddaughter, she found time to be a Girl Scout troop leader, and PTA membership chairman at Sauk Trail Elementary School.
In Rosalie's later years (1966-1976) she was employed by Gimbels at Hilldale, then began volunteer work at the Middleton Public Library, where in 1996 she was nominated for the "Golden Rule Award", sponsored by J.C. Penney, in recognition of outstanding volunteer service.
As a member of St. Bernard's Parish in Middleton, she volunteered her services where needed and was also a Eucharistic Minister.
Rosalie enjoyed crocheting, sewing, cooking, and took great pride in the baking of Italian cookies, homemade bread, pizza, stuffed artichokes and many other dishes that her family enjoyed.
At age 94 and in failing health, Rosalie was admitted to the Waunakee Manor Health Care Center, where she celebrated her 100th birthday at a buffet luncheon with family, relatives and friends.
Rosalie is survived by her son Carmen (Violet) Tortorici of Cottage Grove, and her daughter Maria (George) Colletti of Middleton, seven grandchildren, Michael, Melanie, Noel, Valerie, Donalee, Carla and Tony. Fifteen great-grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other relative and numerous friends.
Rosalie is further survived by her step-grandchildren, James, Kimberly, Kristen, Tia and Gretchen; 12 step great grandchildren and 3 step great, great grandchildren.
Rosalie was preceded in death by her husband, William; her son Victor and his wife Donna (Geiger) Tortorici; her granddaughter Paulette (Tortorici) Berg; her brother Frank (Josephine) Oliva; and sisters Catherine (Tony) Mazzara; and Beatrice (Peter) Cascio.
Rosalie was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She will be missed, but forever loved and never forgotten. Rest in peace Mom and may you enjoy eternal life.
Dear Mom,
Thank you for being the best mom ever, when we were growing up. Thank you for homemade cookies, pies and warm bread from the oven. Thank you for ballet lessons and all the beautiful costumes you sewed on your old peddle sewing machine. Thank you for making our house a place where all our friends were always welcome, and feeding them your great Italian cooking. You loved us even when we weren't very lovable, as teenagers can often be. Even though you lived to be 100, we weren't ready to say good-bye. We love you and will miss you everyday. You take with you a piece of our hearts.
Your Son & Daughter
The family wishes to express it's thanks to the nursing and support staff at the Waunakee Manor Health Care Center for their excellent care and compassion.
There will be a Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011 at 11:00 a. m. at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 2015 Parmenter St. Middleton with Msgr. Douglas Dushack presiding. There will be visitation from 9:30 a. m. until the time of service at church.
"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, to all the people you can, as long as you can." John Wesley