Her father Jucinto Protasio (Protasi) immigrated from Castelli Italy to American in 1906, but he was not yet 18 years of age. When he landed on Ellis Island, they were going to send him back to Italy because he was not the minimum age. A man next to him saw him crying and asked what was wrong and he told him. This kind man said, "Bring your suitcase next to me and I’ll tell them you're with me." Jucinto worked hard, saved money and went back to Italy to marry Rose's mother Maria in 1912. It was an arranged marriage, but they loved each other immensely. Jucinto and Maria worked hard to buy their first house on Hepburn Street in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Growing up in a large Italian family during the depression, Rose learned the value of hard work and sacrifice. In the summer Rose and her siblings worked on a farm picking fruit and vegetables for 10 cents an hour. Her mom would buy 100 half-bushels of tomatoes. They would wash, peel and cook the tomatoes to make sauce for the whole year. Her father passed away in October of 1946. Rose later graduated from Williamsport High School in 1949.
After graduation, Rose worked as a telephone operator and later as a waitress at her brother-in-law Al's diner. It was here that she met her husband Austin Coryell. Austin had just returned from the Korean War and wanted to be part of a new industry emerging in Pennsylvania, Cable TV at Lycoming Cable. Austin was a frequent visitor at the diner and Rose made sure she was the only one that served him food. She fell in love with him and his 1948 canary yellow Oldsmobile 98 convertible. Rose's mom Maria also loved him since he was the only man that could eat two large plates of her famous spaghetti. They were married on June 20, 1953 in Williamsport.
Rose and Austin had their first son in March of 1954. Over the next 10 years, Rose and Austin had 6 other children and moved to Elmira, New York. In Elmira, Rose was a full time mom while Austin worked hard as an engineer at Elmira Video. Rose was often the referee for many disputes between her children.
In 1968, Rose and Austin moved to Winter Haven, Florida near Lake Otis. In Winter Haven Rose often volunteered at Winter Haven Hospital for the American Red Cross. She loved helping others. She was also very active in the PTA, band boosters and various activities for Saint Joseph Catholic Church.
In 1979, Austin was transferred with ATC (American Television Corporation) in Denver, Colorado. In Colorado Rose re-entered the work force and worked at a variety of retail stores in Centennial such as Woolco, Paterson's Hardware and Sears at the Southglen Mall.
Rose loved traveling, especially to Hawaii and New England to see the fall colors. She was also a vociferous reader of both history and fiction books. She could discuss history for hours.
Rose will be remembered by those who knew her as a "realist" that loved her husband, raised a motley bunch of children and always had time to help her family and others.
Rose is proceeded in death by her father Jucinto Protasio (Protasi) and mother Maria (Lavalla) Protasio
; Her brother Frank Protasio and his wife Agness; Her sister Julia Ferrari and her husband Al; Her sister Florence Martin and her husband Robert; Her brother John Protasio; Her sister Marian Stack and her husband George; Her brother Bill Protasio
Rose is survived by her husband Austin Coryell; Her son Jerome Coryell, his wife Sandy and his two children Michael and Austin; Her son Michael Coryell, his wife Tricia and his two children John and Angela
; Her son Edward Coryell, his wife Kay and his four children Ben, Lisa, Jon and Jana. Also her two great grandchildren Charles and Layton; Her daughter Patricia Hoskinson, her husband Mark and their two children William and Charles; Her son Phillip, his wife Pam and his three children Christopher, Rob and Josh; Her son Tony Coryell, his fiance Su and his two children Tameryn and Taryn; Her daughter Kathleen Raasch, her husband Christopher and their children Jon and Kristen
