Rose Marie Giuliani, age 90 years, of Seaside Park, NJ, died peacefully on Sunday, August 29, 2021 at Hackensack Meridian Health Ocean Medical Center, Brick, NJ.

Rose Marie was born in Stamford, CT, daughter of the late Frank and Mamie Lacerenza Ross. She left Stamford at the age of six months, when the family moved to Raritan Borough, NJ. In 1947, they moved back to Stamford where she resided until 1993 when retirement brought her to the “Jersey Shore.”

Graduating from Stamford High School in 1948, Rose Marie would then attend Merrell Business School and become a paralegal. She would go on to work as a paralegal for several Stamford area attorneys where she was respected for her professionalism and knowledge.

When speaking about Rose Marie’s life, it is only fitting to start with her beloved husband Joseph, whom she met when she was eighteen years old. For Joe, it was love at first sight; he just knew she was the one! “We were just addicted to each other,” says Joe. The two were married on July 3,1954 in Stamford, CT and recently had celebrated sixty-seven years of marriage.

This blessed union would bring Rose Marie and Joe what would be, according to Rose Marie, the most important events of her life, giving birth to her three children, Jody, Mark, and David. Rose Marie was a loving and devoted mother who made sure that her children learned the value of having humor in their lives, never judging anybody, and seeing the value that each person brings into the world. She was fiercely protective of her children.

Rose Marie was an amazing cook; her family and friends were always well fed. Rose Marie cooked with love; food was a time for family to spend together. In her eyes, family time was the best of times. Her Hungarian goulash, beef stew, beef vegetable soup, and the homemade birthday cakes in the shape of animals for each of her children will never be forgotten.

Rose Marie’s talents extended beyond the kitchen; she also had an eye for interior design and decorating. Her attention to detail was remarkable, and her eclectic taste was impeccable. She greatly enjoyed decorating her homes over the years, and she prided herself in creating spaces that were warm and comforting for family and friends.

Her decorating ability was a key to her visual experience in life, and, in that vein, she loved the performing arts. She enjoyed acting and singing, plays and musical theater.  Some of her favorite memories were made attending Broadway shows. It was not unusual to find Rose Marie, in her kitchen or elsewhere, belting out show-tunes. She had a profound love of the opera, with La Boheme and Tosca being performances that touched her heart.

Active in many nonprofit and volunteer events, Rose Marie was instrumental in coordinating the Pink Tent Arts Festival at Mill River Park in Stamford for many years. She had served as President of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Italian Center, Stamford, CT, and she was co-founder of State Opera, which was a regional opera company in the Stamford, CT area.

Rose Marie loved sitting on the beach by the ocean for hours.  The family spent many summers in Seaside Park, especially at 11^th Avenue Beach, so it was only natural that retirement brought Rose Marie and Joe to Seaside Park. It was there where many happy memories were made with her children, friends, family, and, the light in Rose Marie’s eyes, her grandchildren. The Giuliani house was the heart of the summer social scene.

Rose Marie enjoyed heading south on the Garden State Parkway to Atlantic City, where she became “Queen of the Slots” at Harrah’s. The “Double Dolphin” and “Wheel of Fortune” machines were where she would most likely be found, beating the house. Rose Marie and her entourage  enjoyed traveling to Las Vegas where she wore her “slot crown” with pride. For Joe’s eighty-fifth birthday, she planned a family cruise.

Rose Marie had a special place in her heart for dolphins, and not just because she won often at the dolphin slot machines. The philosopher Plutarch once wrote, “The Dolphin alone, beyond all other, nature has granted what the best philosophers seek: friendship for no advantage.” Rose Marie was a friend to all. She was a champion of the underdog; she lived life loving others because it was the right way to live. To honor her, please add a bit more of this secret ingredient to your own life: kindness.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Mark Ross Giuliani. Surviving are her beloved and devoted husband, Joseph P. Giuliani; her daughter, Jody Rapoport and her dear friend, Irene Johnson; her son and daughter-in-law, David and Shannon Giuliani; her daughter-in-law, Kim Giuliani; her grandchildren, Trevor, Tyler, Olivia, and Amelia; and her grand-dog, Josie.

Rose Marie’s entire family would like to extend their sincere thanks and gratitude to the doctors, nurses and staff of Ocean Medical Center, especially those in the Critical Care Unit for their genuine love and support of not only Rose Marie, but of the entire Giuliani family.

Family and friends may visit with the family on Friday, September 10, 2021 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at the Lacerenza Funeral Home, 8 Schuyler Avenue, Stamford, CT 06902,  203-324-0158. Please visit Lacerenza Funeral home by clicking HERE for more information.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, September 11, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 37 Schuyler Avenue, Stamford, CT 06902, 203-324-9544. Please meet directly at the church on Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. Information about the church itself may be found by clicking HERE.

Cremation and arrangements in New Jersey are under the care and direction of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.

You are encouraged to visit Rose Marie’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.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Rose Marie’s honor may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online by clicking HERE.

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