Rose T Tomanelli

Rose T. Tomanelli, 77, of Kenilworth passed away peacefully at Villa Marie Claire in Saddle River on March 9, 2014. Relatives and friends are invited to the visitation at Good Shepherd Church, Nesbit Terr, Irvington from 8:45 until 10:45 on Friday, March 14. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11AM followed by burial at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover. Rose, the 5th of 6 children born to Angela and Nicolas Tomanelli was raised in Orange, NJ. She attended and graduated from Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Elementary School and Orange High School. She obtained a B.A. Elem Ed. from Mount Saint Mary College, Newburgh, NY; a M.A. Elem. Ed from Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ; a Post Graduate Diploma in Administrative/Supervision from Manhattan College, NY. Rose's career as an educator spanned 51 years. She taught at St Patrick School, Woodbury, NJ, St Mary School, Nutley, NJ and Immaculate Heart of Mary School, Maplewood, NJ. She served as principal at St Frances Cabrini School, Piscataway, NJ, Our Lady of Mt Carmel School, Orange, NJ and as vice-principal at St Thomas the Apostle School, Bloomfield, NJ. In addition to teaching, Rose served on various committees for the Archdiocese of Newark as well as for the Middle States Commission, visiting schools in New York and New Jersey for accreditation evaluation. While Rose belonged to various professional organizations, the membership she valued most was that of Who's Who among America's teachers, having been nominated by several of her students. Rose was a long time member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, where she served as a lector and as a member of the Folk Group Music Ministry. She also was active on the Parish Council, servig on the Education Committee and the Liturgy Committee, as well as being the Corresponding/Recording Secretary. When Immaculate Heart of Mary merged with St. Paul Parish, Irvington, Rose continued as a member of the newly formed parish, Good Shepherd Parish, Irvington. Outside of teaching and parish activities, Rose was a reader for the blind (EIES of NJ) for several years as well as a member of the South Orange/Maplewood Women's Chorus until it disbanded. Upon retiring, Rose became a volunteer at St. Barnabas Ambulatory Care Center, working three days a week in the pediatric unit. Besides spending time with her family and friends, Rose enjoyed reading, baking, playing Scrabble and Rummicube with her sister, and watching the Yankees, the Cowboys, and college football and basketball games. Rose was predeceased by her parents, Angela and Nicolas Tomanelli, her sisters Camilla and Angela and her brother Michael. She is survived by her sister Louise T. Wood, her sister AntionetteT. Valdati and her husband Anthony, as well as 36 nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews. One nephew predeceased her. Memorial contributions to Good Shepherd Pairsh in Irvington or Villa Marie Claire of Saddle River would be appreciated.