Rose M. Durante passed away at home on Thursday night after a long illness. She was 86. Born and raised in Boston’s North End, she was the daughter of the late Giovanni and Elisa (LaManna) Durante.

Rose retired from teaching in the Boston Public Schools in 2003. She enjoyed a long career as an early childhood educator. She earned both her BA and MEd from Suffolk University. She did advanced studies in early childhood education and development at il Scuolo di Nido in Parma, Italy. Her teaching included Bi- lingual instruction in the North End as well as kindergarten at the Bancroft School, Holy Cross Cathedral, the Chapman, Blackstone, Grew and Tyman Schools in Boston. Rose traveled extensively throughout Europe, Asia and South America. She visited Kindergartens with the Massachusetts Teachers association in Russia, China and Vietnam. She also was a mentor to many aspiring teachers.


Rose is survived by her beloved sister Elisa Durante of Medford.

Her funeral will be from the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main St., Medford, Wednesday at 9 AM followed by a funeral mass celebrated in St. Joseph Church, 118 High Street, Medford, at 10 AM. Services will conclude with burial at Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend and may visit at the funeral home, Tuesday 4 – 8 PM.