Rose Danduone, age 98 years, of Raritan Township, NJ, died peacefully on Tuesday, October 12, 2021, surrounded by her loving family at Hunterdon Medical Center, Raritan Township, NJ.

Born in Newark, NJ, February 23, 1923, daughter of the late James and Josephine Vicari, she was raised in the Ironbound section of Newark and lived in the city before moving to Belleville in 1977. She resided there before moving to Raritan Township in 2010 to be closer to family.

Growing up as number six of nine siblings, and as a child of the depression,  Rose’s parents worked hard to ensure food was on the table and that the Vicari children were raised with a good set of catholic values. It was growing up in a large family where Rose first learned to find ‘her voice’ at an early age and to call things as she saw them. It was a characteristic she would carry throughout her life, and one always knew where Rose stood on any position.

Graduating from Newark’s East Side High School, Rose also learned the value of hard work during her childhood, and never shied away from working to ensure her family was taken care of on every level. After working a number of factory jobs, Rose spent the balance of her career working as an assembler for Westinghouse, Bloomfield, NJ.

Meeting Leonard Danduone through mutual friends in the late 1940’s, the couple would wed on January 22, 1949  at St. James Church, Newark, NJ. Their union would bring them two children, Joanne and Leonard, who would make Rose a grandmother five times, a title she cherished. This would only be eclipsed when she was ‘promoted’ to a great grandmother three times.

Proud of her children and their families, Rose was known to have a sense of humor that made anyone smile, as well as an elephant’s memory for remembering birthdays, anniversaries and every milestone for each family member. With her generous heart and modest means, she always ensured that every special event was celebrated and treasured.

The family storyteller, she had a panache for recanting family history in a way that no one else could. She was an amazing chef, with her eggplant parmesan and manicotti achieving legendary status. Her baking skills were second to none, with her cream puffs and fruitcake being family favorites.

Enjoying the video poker machines of Atlantic City and Bethlehem, as well as the Old Flamingo in Las Vegas, Rose and Leonard enjoyed traveling when they were able, and spent many enjoyable vacations traveling to places neither one of them ever thought possible when they were children. From Hawaii to Puerto Rico, they made the most of their time together and shared sixty-one happy years until Leonard’s passing in 2010.

In addition to working hard, cooking, and challenging the slots, Rose enjoyed playing the ‘Big Money Spectacular’ scratch off lotto tickets, and watching the ABC soap opera lineup, especially General Hospital. She also enjoyed word searches and other puzzle books, and was Michael Jordan’s number one fan.

It was Michael Jordan who once said, “I want to be the bridge to the next generation.” Rose is surely the bridge from her youngest great grandchild to the generations that came before, and it is through her life and stories that the legacy of hard work and love of family will continue. Rest in the sweetest of peace, Rose.

In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by all of her siblings, Sammy, Jimmy, Josie, Mary, Anna, Johnny, Millie, and Marty.

Surviving are her daughter and favorite son-in-law, Joanne and Peter Pitucco; her son, Leonard Danduone; her grandchildren, Peter Pitucco Jr. and his wife, Amy, Matthew Pitucco, Elisse Vassallo and her husband, Brian, Nicholas Danduone, and Anthony Danduone; her great grandchildren, Timothy, Julianna, and Kirsten; many nieces, nephews and extended family; and many friends made as she traveled the path of life.

Rose will lie in repose on Sunday, October 17, 2021 from 2:00-5:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.

Funeral services will take place on Monday, October 18, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home. Everyone is kindly asked to arrive at the funeral home beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Monday.

Realizing that some people may be unable to attend, the funeral services will be live-streamed on Monday beginning at 10:15 a.m. by clicking HERE. Kindly ensure your pop-up blocker is not active and if you have any issues you may alternatively follow this link: https://vimeo.com/event/1385921/00438605f5.)

Following the service, Rose will be entombed with her husband, Leonard, at Holy Cross Mausoleum, 340 Ridge Road, North Arlington, NJ.

You are encouraged to visit Rose’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of her life.

Memorial contributions in her honor may be made to the Flemington-Raritan First Aid & Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 686, Flemington, NJ 08822 or online by clicking HERE. Any and all contributions are greatly appreciated by her family.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”