Rose (Albanese) Bentivegna, of Medford, formerly of Boston’s North End, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her loving family on August 2nd. She was 89.

Born in Boston, she was raised in Boston’s North End and was the daughter of the late Nicola and Maria (Mastrullo) Albanese. After high school, Rose and her husband Jimmy were married, and together they built their family with love and devotion.

Rose was a loving, caring and hardworking woman. When her husband passed away suddenly as a young man, she worked diligently to support her children. Rose was a Floor Lady and worked as a clothing factory worker. Her drive successfully put each child through twelve years of Catholic school. Her family was the most important piece of her life and her legacy continues through her children and grandchildren.

Rose was a quiet, reserved and elegant woman. She was the type of person to care for those during difficult times. Rose was a caretaker to many family members and friends when they fell ill. A graceful woman, but never insincere, she wasn’t the foo-foo shee-shee type. Throughout her life she always enjoyed being a host and visiting with others. Relatives and friends always felt welcomed by her. When visiting her home, it was a ‘take your shoes off and put your feet up’ experience. Rose’s home was always immaculate, as she loved to clean and keep things orderly.

When Rose, also known as the Queen Mother, had spare time she often spent it watching the Boston Red Sox, playing cards and solitaire, or doing word searches and puzzles. She was also known for sunbathing at home when the opportunity arose. A lover of music, she enjoyed the genres from the 1940’s all the way through Rap and Hip-Hop. Rose was always a dancer and has danced throughout her entire life, even after recent surgery. As soon as she recovered, Rose was back to dancing the disco. Rose also enjoyed gambling at Foxwoods and Atlantic City.

When she was in her eighties, she started traveling and her first trip was to visit nieces and nephews in New Jersey. It was a positive experience and because it was her first time on an airplane, she was given her ‘wings’ like all first-time flyers. She took many road trips to Virginia, but her most memorable trip was to Canada with her grandchildren. There wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do or anywhere she wouldn’t go for her grandchildren. If they were going, she would happily follow.

Rose was the beloved wife of the late Vincent “Jimmy” Bentivegna, who passed away in 1974. She was the devoted mother of Josephine “Jo” Accarrino and her husband Paul, Marie Dioguardi and her husband Alfred, and Roseann Bentivegna, all of Medford. Rose was the loving grandmother of Michael Dioguardi of Woburn and Vanessa Dioguardi of Medford. She was the dear sister-in-law of Philip Bentivegna and Joan Andrews-Bentivegna. Rose is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by her siblings Euplio, John, Rocco and Domenic Albanese, Angelina Salvati, Phyllis Stevens, and Laura Hardy.

Her funeral will be from the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main Street, Medford on Saturday, August 5th at 10AM followed by a graveside service celebrated in Holy Cross Cemetery, 175 Broadway, Malden at 11AM. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend and may visit with the family at the funeral home from 9 through 10AM. Services will conclude with interment in Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Rose’s name may be sent to the North End Waterfront Health, 332 Hanover Street, Boston, MA 02113 or the Alzheimer's Association, 309 Waverley Oaks Road, Waltham, MA 02452.