Rosalia Maria Castro

Rosalia Maria Graziano Castro of Naples, Florida was born in New York City on May 12, 1939, the oldest child of Anthony and Erminia Graziano. Having relentlessly fought cancer for over a decade, and later heart disease, she passed away at age 86 on June 4, 2025 surrounded by her family.

She had many entertaining stories of her childhood growing up in the Big Apple. One of these memories was buying a pickle at the corner five and dime store with the bus money meant for her to get home from ballet class, and then walking the many blocks home munching on the pickle. She was always surrounded by her large Italian extended family, having Sunday dinners and learning to make her famous apple pie from her Aunt Mary.

On September 6, 1959, Rosalie married the love of her life, Anthony Castro. A devout Catholic, she often told the story of him slipping on her engagement ring at Mass. Together for 65 years, they raised 6 children and welcomed 12 grandchildren. They had a decades long gin rummy competition and would often brag about who was ahead for the year. She loved to play Scrabble and was almost impossible to beat. “Nonny” to her grandchildren was famous for playing games with the kids from Bananagrams to Rummikub. Every year, you could count on her to host gingerbread house making at Christmastime followed by egg hunts at Easter. With such a large family, it was a good thing she loved cooking. She was known for her ability to whip up a feast without breaking a sweat. Specialties included spaghetti with clam sauce, prime rib with fettuccine, cheesecake, and of course, the apple pie! She was also known for her love of a party and being a frequent hostess. Rosalie and Anthony enjoyed traveling all over the world, even taking their older grandchildren on adventures to Europe as young teens.

Rosalie graduated from Fordham University with a degree in Fine Arts, followed by attending the New York School Of Interior Design for her professional license as an interior designer. Her love of art shined through everything she did. She brought the joy of art to many kids both in the classroom and at home. While raising six kids, she often set up art projects to keep everyone busy, playing with clay, tie-dying T-shirts, or just painting. Rosalie was a highly accomplished painter and ceramicist. In her early years, her love of the beach showed in many of her works. She spent many years selling her pottery, followed by a successful hand-painted tile business, and then designing home décor through Rosalie Castro Interiors. In her later years, she painted beautiful portraits of her family members, which will keep her living in all our hearts forever.

Rosalie is survived by her five sons and four daughters-in-law, Steve (Maureen), David (Claire), Andrew (Lisa), Paul, Anthony (Missy), and her daughter and son-in-law, Mary Jo (Ryan), as well as her cherished grandchildren Stephen, Anthony (Jessica), Colleen (Dustin), John (Zoe), Megan, Zoe, Zinnia, Sicily, Cherokee, Maisie, Logan, and Parker. Rosalie and Anthony were anxiously awaiting the debut of their first great-grandchild, Dorothy, due later this month. Rosalie lost her husband, Anthony, only two months ago, and we are sure that the nightly gin rummy battle has resumed!

A Celebration of Life Mass will take place on June 27, 2025 at 11:00am at Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Naples. Please use the following link to view the live streamed Funeral Mass at St John the Evangelist https://sjecc.org/funeral-mass/