Rose M. (Costa) Schifano, age 96, passed away on Wednesday, September 23, at the Aberjona Nursing Center of Winchester. A lifelong Medford resident, she was the daughter of the late John and Frances (Marino) Costa. Rose worked for many years at the Massachusetts Highway Department. Prior to a long career with the Mass Highway Dept. Rose worked as a seamstress in Boston’s garment district. Rose enjoyed a long retirement by traveling and reveled in hosting many social and family gatherings and was noted for cooking an abundance of delicious food. The family loved her homemade afghans which she knitted for every new addition to the family and became family heirlooms. Known alternately as Auntie to her loving nieces and nephews, Dolly to her many friends and Noni to her grandchildren and great grandchildren children she was loved and admired by all.
Rose was the beloved wife of the late Joseph Schifano, and the devoted mother of Rose Hines and her husband George of Plymouth, and the late Francine Gladding and her surviving husband David of Tewksbury. She was the loving grandmother of Father George C. "Chip" Hines of Natick, Matthew Hines of Plymouth, Kevin Hines and his wife Erin of Reading, and David J. Gladding and Nicole Gladding, both of Tewksbury. Rose was the loving great grandmother of Vincent, Joseph, Leo, Oliver and Maxwell Hines, and Adriana Gladding. She was the dear sister of the late Marion Poccio and Frances Flammia, and the dearly loved aunt of Frank (Janet), Ross, Thomas, Joseph and the late Jack Schifano, Margaret MacNeil, Robert MacNeil (Patty), Jeanne Wong (David), Debra Conboy (the late Kevin), Kimberly Murphy, Anthony Flammia, Stephanie Andrews and the late Anthony Poccio. Also survived by her dear cousin Maryann Salvucci and her husband Frederick.
A funeral will be held from the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main St., Medford on Tuesday, September 29 at 9 AM followed by a funeral mass celebrated in St. Joseph Church, 118 High St., Medford, at 10 AM. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Services will conclude with burial at Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford. Visiting hours with social distancing protocols will be held on Monday, September 28 from 5 through 7 PM.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be sent in Rose's name to the Alzheimer's Asc., 309 Waverley Oaks Rd., Waltham, MA 02452, or to the American Heart Asc., PO BOX 417005, Boston, MA 02241.