Obituary of Rosemarie A. Donovan
Rosemarie (Dolly) A. Donovan, age 95, of Rome, passed away peacefully on June 22, 2022 at Lutheran Care, Clinton, NY.
Dolly was born in Rome on August 15, 1926 to the late Joseph and Mary Storace Palmer. On November 6, 1948, she was united in marriage to Francis X. Donovan; a blessed union of nearly 58 years until his passing on August 2, 2006.
Dolly started out early in life as a bookkeeper at SS Kresge where she would meet her oldest and dearest friend, Carrie Cucchiara. They remained friends for nearly 80 years until Dolly’s passing. She later did book-keeping for the family business at The Carpet Barn. She had a love of sports. In her younger years she played fast pitch softball and loved to ice skate. Later on in life she enjoyed watching basketball. Although she would watch it muted because in her words “I don’t give a damn about what they’re talking about I just want to watch the game.” She had a weakness for sweets, especially pies from Eddie’s of Sylvan Beach. She enjoyed hanging out with her Gifford Road girls: Toni Urso, Ardie Schillaci and Junie Paprocki. Above all Dolly’s greatest accomplishment in life was the devotion that she had for her children. She was a loving, caring, fearless and strong mother, wife and friend.
Dolly is survived by her daughter, Mary Margaret (Michael) Weiler of Jupiter, FL; her four sons, Gary (Teri) Donovan of Yorba Linda, CA, Terry Donovan of Georgetown, TX, Larry (Lynn Mastracco) Donovan of Rome, and Barry (Kim Coccagnia) Donovan of Beacon, NY; grandchildren, Chad, Jamie, Amanda, Abigail, Chase, Chris, Lauren, and Kimberly; nine great grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Marion Palmer; and countless nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sisters, Eve (Don) Rose, Mary (Michael) Bauman, Lorriane Palmer, and Jean (Jack) Klossner; her brothers, Jack (Molly) Palmer and Francis “Bubby” Palmer; nieces, Cynthia Palmer, and Pamela Bauman; a great nephew, Richard Palmer; and daughter-in-law, Amy Lynn Donovan.
The family would also like to extend a sincere thank you to her aide, Kristine, for the wonderful care and friendship shown to Dolly.
A graveside service will be held on August 15, 2022 at 11 AM at Saint John’s Cemetery.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Barry Funeral Home, 807 W. Chestnut Street.