GLOUCESTER: Rochelle “Rocky” Marie (Sova) Goveny Prendergast, died peacefully at the Kaplan Family Hospice House, Danvers on March 9, 2013 surrounded by her family.
Born in Detroit, Michigan on December 21, 1940, she was the daughter of the late Clayton “Dunk” and Marilyn (Bean) Sova. Rochelle and her family moved to Gloucester in 1948, after her father returned from serving in the Navy during World War II. She was a graduate of Gloucester High School.
She worked in several local restaurants including The Tavern, The Patio, Peg Leg, and The Hearthside. She returned to academia in 1975 earning an Associate’s Degree from North Shore Community College. She later worked for Werner Auto in Salem as a bookkeeper.
An excellent cook, she loved making food for family gatherings and sharing her recipes with family members and friends. She was also an excellent gardener and many gardens on Cape Ann have benefited from her generosity.
Rochelle loved spending time with all of her grandchildren and creating close bonds with and between them. She took great pride in being “Grammy” and had a strong belief that cousins should build relationships and socialize with one another. She hosted many sleepovers, but most legendary were her annual New Year’s Eve sleepovers.
She was a lifelong learner and shared her varied interests with those around her. She will be dearly missed by family members and dear friends, including her good friend, Diane Sperry.
She is also survived by her four children, Renee Goveny, companion of Toby Burnham, Gordon Goveny, Jr., husband of Marilyn, William Goveny, husband of Barbara, and Thomas Prendergast, husband of Wendy; ten grandchildren, David Goveny, Frank Stellato, Jessica (Goveny) Torres, Gordon Goveny, III, Derek Goveny, Amanda Goveny, Kyle Mooney, Corey Mooney, Olivia Cagnina, and Bella Prendergast. She also leaves six siblings, Bernard “Pete” Sova, husband of Phyllis, Barbara Virgillio, wife of Joseph, Ellen Sibley, wife of George, Clayton Sova, husband of Irene, Timothy Sova, husband of Robin, Michael Sova, husband of Maria; as well as many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Her niece, Brynn Sibley, was also very special to her. She was also predeceased by her son, Mark Goveny.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 23rd at the Gloucester United Methodist Church, 436 Washington Street, Gloucester at noon. There are no visiting hours. At Rochelle’s request, in lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in her memory to one of the following, Cape Ann Food Pantry, 28 Emerson Ave., Gloucester (www.foodpantry.org), Pathways for Children, c/o Development Office, 29 Emerson Ave., Gloucester, MA 01930 (www.pathwaysforchildren.org) or WGBH.