Rose M. Phelps

Rose was born in Norwich on January 10, 1924 the daughter of Frank and Jennie (Fazio) Sastri. She grew up in Norwich and attended and graduated from the Guilford School. On October 3, 1942 in St. Bartholomew’s Roman Catholic Church she married Robert Phelps who passed away March 18, 1996. Prior to her marriage she worked for a brief period time for the Norwich Mills and following her marriage went to work for the Scintilla in Sidney. Rose eventually returned to work for the Norwich Shoe Co. where she remained for 31 years retiring in 1989.

Rose was a lifelong member of St. Bartholomew’s Church. She was a member of the Ave Maria Guild and participated in many of the church’s spaghetti dinners preparing meat balls and sauce. She also enjoyed making Italian cookies and loved to sew. In addition to her church, Rose was an officer for Girl Scout Troop 84. In her leisure time she enjoyed camping in the Thousand Islands and eventually had a permanent camp at Lebanon Reservoir. In 2002 she was awarded by President George Bush the President’s Volunteer Service Award.

Rose is survived by her son Robert (Linda) Phelps of Norwich and daughter Diane Lessaongang of Syracuse, her granddaughter Stephanie (Devon) Ziegler along with many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Besides her husband Bob, Rose was predeceased by her siblings, Josephine DiNoto, Catherine DiNito, Mary Del Monte, James Sastri, Anthony Sastri, Angelo Sastri, Joseph Sastri and Sam Sastri.

A funeral service for Rose will be held on Wednesday, July17, at 11:30 am from the R.J.Fahy Funeral Home. The Rev. Ralph A. Bove will officiate. Interment will be in St. Paul’s Cemetery.

Friends may call at the R.J.Fahy Funeral Home on Wednesday from 10-11 am.

Please consider memorial contributions to Rose’s church, St. Bartholomew’s Roman Catholic Church, East Main St., Norwich, NY 13815.