Obituary of Rose Marie Constandi

Rose Marie Constandi, Aunt Rose to all, age 107, passed into eternal life on Sunday, December 9th, 2007 at Norwood Terrace Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Plainfield with the presence of her beloved niece, Mary B. Sorbo. Rose by any other name smells just as sweet, was a favorite expression of hers. Daughter of the late Virginia and Michael Constandi, she was predeceased by beloved sisters, Mary B. and Margaret Constandi, only brother Joseph, nieces, Sister Virginia Constandi S.C., Rose Mignella and Ann Garglia and nephews, Michael, James, Peter and Frank Constandi. Rose was known by all, young and old as Aunt Rose related and unrelated. A truly devoted Aunt to Mary Sorbo and her husband, Charles; Dominick Constandi and his children Nina and Frank; Margaret Ritchie and her offspring, Suzanne Lally and Charles; Helen LaPiere and her children, Reggie, Nancy and Mary Jo; nieces and nephews, Charles F. Sorbo, III and his children Bryan and Allison, Virginia, Michael, Joseph, Linda, Sally, Toni Marie, Peter, Nicole, Elizabeth, Frank, Nicky, Anne Marie, Tommy, James, Patricia, Emily, Gillian, Sophia, Rebecca, Lydia, Michelle, Reggie Jr., Christopher, Kim, Jen, Michael, Matthew, Abigail, Emma, Giana, Michael, Ashley, Joseph, Christina and Patricia Constandi. A long time religious lay sister (Nun) with the Dominican Third Order at The Rosary Shrine in Summit, was exemplified by her daily Mass, special offerings and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Her lifestyle was loving and caring for all those that needed her help; her many friends included notables of Plainfield; the Carters, Brittons, Cooks, Stenders, J.P. Stevens, Von Broscarts, Betty Hughes and her cousin, Governor Hughes; Dorothea Dix Lawrence, famed opera diva, granddaughter of Colonel J. Dix for whom Fort Dix is named and grandson, Morgan Lawrence, famed travel correspondent with the Los Angeles Times; Charles Malatesta, M.D., Edmund Sage, DDS and her latest devoted friend Richard Sharret, MD and last but certainly not least, having known personally Bishop Fulton J. Sheen. She never married her true love due to social and religious restrictions. Although he married within his financial and social class, he called his true love to say goodbye and took his own life tragically. Truly a Romeo and Juliet story, her mind remained sharp with his memory right up to her dying days. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, December 13, 2007 at 12:15 pm at Higgins Home for Funerals, 752 Mountain Blvd., Watchung followed by a 1:00 p.m. Mass of Resurrection at St. Bernards & St. Stanislaus Kostka R.C. Church, Plainfield and interment at Holy Redeemer Cemetery, So. Plainfield. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. Memorial contributions can be made to: Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, attn: Development Office, P.O. Box 476, Convent Station, NJ 07961-0476. To send condolences go to www.higginsfuneralhome.com.