Rosemary Rosie Sferra

LIBERTY TWP. – Rosemary (Rosie) Sferra, 93, passed away Monday morning, March 6, 2023 at Liberty Health care Center.

Rosemary Sferra was the middle and last surviving child of Stephen J. and Mary L. (Modarelli) Sferra. Born on June 13, 1929, Rosie was baptized at St. Ann Church ten days later. She and her six brothers and four sisters were raised by their parents at 612 Oxford Avenue in Youngstown.

Rosie attended St. Ann School and graduated from Ursuline High School in 1947. From 1948 until the mill closed in 1979, she worked at Youngstown Sheet & Tube—just long enough to receive a YS&T pension. Rosie continued working for 18 years at MSAHEN (the Mahoning Shenango Valley Health Network) until her retirement in 1998.

Rosie traveled extensively over the years, to everywhere from Cleveland to Italy to Acapulco—but most often to visit siblings, nieces, and nephews throughout the country. Reliably hilarious and entertaining without ever trying to be, Rosie was a favorite visitor and travel companion of friends and family alike. No one was immune to her effortlessly fun-loving personality—of which smiles and laughs were the inevitable result.

Irreverent yet devout, Rosie remained active at St. Edward Church into her 90s, serving as a eucharistic minister and keeping homebound members and out-of-town relatives up-to-date on the life of the parish with frequent cards and bulletins. Also an avid club member, Rosie maintained memberships over the years in the Liberty 55+ Club, CMS (Carovilliese Mutual Aid Society), the Liberty Historical Society, St. Edward’s Auxiliary and 31 card club.

In addition to her dear parents, Rosie was preceded in death by sisters and brothers-in-law Marge & Mick Nelson, Louise & Ray Leone, Virginia & Bob Klein, and Mary Santon and brothers and sisters-in-law John & Clara (DePiero), Bob & Ann (Lischak), Joe & Mary (Conti), Jim & Betty (Petruzzi), Ed, and Bill & Claire (Figlia) Sferra. As deeply as she loved all the family members and friends she lost over the years, nothing seemed to get Rosie down for long.

Her 39 surviving nieces and nephews will treasure memories of their fun, energetic a(u)nt, babysitter, and/or driving teacher who somehow managed to make each one feel special. She is also survived by sister-in-law Marcella (Dickey) Sferra, brother-in-law Dan Santon, and 63 grandnieces and grandnephews.

Rosie attributed her longevity to sharing the home of her sister Marge and (after Marge’s death), niece Peggy (Nelson) Marcavish and nephew Bill Marcavish. Over 100 years after Steve and Mary Sferra were married, the strong bonds their 102 descendants enjoy today is largely attributable to Rosie’s faithful service as family historian/storyteller, reunion-planner, peace-maker, and news-reporter.

The family will receive relatives and friends Saturday March 11, 2023 in St. Edward Church from 10am to 10:45am followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 am celebrated by Reverend Monsignor Robert Siffrin.

The family has requested in lieu of flowers contributions may be made to St. Edward Church, 240 Tod Lane, Youngstown, Ohio 44504. 

 Thoughts and condolences can be sent to the funeral home website www.mccauleyfuneral.com     

Arrangements by The McCauley Funeral Home privileged to serve the valley for more than 121 years!

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