Claire Catherine Konarski Rose

Claire was born February 4,1929 at home in Larksville, PA, the fifth child to Charles (Casimir) Konarski and Julia Strish Konarski. Her parents were born in Poland (dad) and Czechoslovakia (mom). Claire was a proud and patriotic first generation American who enjoyed celebrating and sharing her Eastern European heritage. She graduated from Larksville High School and Wyoming Seminary Secretarial program.

Claire married James Rose on April 16, 1955, and they celebrated 64 years together before his death in 2019. During Chief Rose’s USAF career they traveled the world, retiring in Virginia. Claire was a housing Specialist at HRHA in Hampton VA, as well as the Postmistress of the Hampton VAMC. She was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, serving as a lector and member of the choir, ladies’ group, funeral luncheon committee, and bedmaker for Holy Family Retreat House. She belonged to the Ya-Ya Mamas Red Hat Society.

Claire was a faithful Catholic, avid reader, and brilliant storyteller. Many of her stories and articles were published throughout the US during her time as an Air Force spouse. She exhibited her remarkable memory and flair for the dramatic in everything she did, and relished making others feel special through her fun loving, clever personality. Her adventurous spirit soared during travels throughout Europe and the US, and she accomplished her goal of visiting all 50 states. Her great love was the Grand Canyon. Claire spent the last four years of her life at St. Anthony’s Gardens, embracing the joie de vivre of her Louisiana family.

Claire is survived by her four children, John Rose, Dr. Barbara Rose, Lauren Rose Clark

(Robert), and James Rose (Beth), grandchildren Kristen Clark Clapper (Benjamin), Kelly Rose Peronti (Domenick), Kathryn Clark Vosburgh (Clifford), Sean Rose, Patrick Rose, Mackenzie Rose, and Alexandra Rose, great-grandchildren Kathryn, Mary Rose, Julia, and Claire Clapper, Vada and Luca Peronti, Maxwell, Zakary, and Isaac Vosburgh, sister-in-law Dorothy Konarski, brother-in-law Paul Rose (Marion), beloved cousins, Godchildren, nieces, and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial and Celebration of Life will be Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 11:00 am at Grace Funeral Home, 450 Holy Trinity Drive, Covington, LA. Visitation will be begin at 10:00 am with a Rosary to be recited at 10:30 AM, and a reception to follow Mass. Mass will be live-streamed via Grace Funeral Home Facebook home page. Graveside services and interment will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.gracenorthshore.com for the Rose family.