Rose Burgess

at Woodlake of Tolland surrounded by her family. She was born on October 24, 1926, in East Hartford CT, where she resided for 84 years. Rose was married to Earl (Bob) Burgess on October 26, 1946, and they made their home in East Hartford where she raised her family. She was a long-time communicant of St. Mary’s church in East Hartford. Rose was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, Memmae and friend. We will miss her sense of humor, her love for her family and her loving and nurturing heart. She is preceded in death by her husband, Earl in 2007 and son Richard (Dick) in 1988. She is survived by her children Robert (Bob) Burgess and wife Patricia of Manchester, CT; Wayne (Brad) Burgess and wife Karen of The Villages, FL; and Deborah (Debbie) Mathiau of Tolland, CT; her grandchildren Dawn Crouch and husband Mark of Prairie Village, KS; Kimberly Giusti and her husband Richard of North Kingston, RI; Daniel Mathiau and his wife Heather of Tolland, CT; Melissa Maffeo and her husband William of Southington, CT; Kevin Mathiau and his wife Jennifer of Tolland, CT; Lauren Wilson and her husband Gregory of Ellington, CT and Nicole Burgess of Vernon, CT; her great grandchildren Sydney and Taylor Crouch; Logan, Aidan, Mason and Peyton Giusti; Olivia Mathiau; Adam Maffeo; Eric, Austin and Ella Rose Mathiau; and Avery, Noah and Riley Wilson. Rose worked at the Fuller Brush Company and enjoyed bragging about her time on their softball team. She was introduced to her husband Bob where they both worked. After marrying and starting her family she became a babysitter to many of her nieces and nephews. At one time having her four children and 6 of the nieces and nephews. Once her babysitting was no longer needed, she worked at the Finest Bakery until she retired in 1989. Rose loved to watch the UCONN Women’s Basketball team play and was never comfortable unless they were winning by 20 points. She could watch her favorite movies more times than can be counted; The Hobbit (3 movies), Lord of the Rings (3 movies) and TV show NCIS new and reruns. Rose was a lover of the Christmas holiday and would start decorating as soon as Halloween was over. She had Christmas Eve celebration with her whole family for all 94 years of her life. She also leaves behind, Ziva the Siamese cat named after Ziva from NCIS fame, who preferred sleeping on her chest versus her lap. Gracie Rose the Corgi dog, who kept her entertained with her crazy sleeping positions, verbal woofing like she was talking. The family would like to thank Lisa from Caring Hands for the exemplary care that she gave to Rose for over 10 years. Her dedication to Rose was more than a job to her as she always went above and beyond to meet her needs. Funeral services will be June 28th from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Benjamin J. Callahan Funeral Home located at 318 Burnside Avenue, East Hartford. A prayer service will be held at Callahan Funeral Home at 11AM. Burial will be held at Hillside Cemetery in East Hartford.