Rose L. Denis

With profound sadness, we announce the passing of our beloved and devoted mother, Rose L. (Nappi) Denis, 79, who passed away on January 7, 2020 at her home in Ellsworth after a long illness, with her loving daughters by her side.

Rose was born April 28, 1940, the youngest of 15 children, in Portland to Giovanni (John) and Lucrezia (Montecalvo) Nappi. She attended Deering High School where she met and then married her childhood sweetheart, Joseph Renee Langlois, in April 1958. They had 3 children together and were settled in Yarmouth so she could be close to her parents and childhood home.

They divorced in early 1970 and while on a double date with her sister, Rose met her soon-to-be second husband, Roger A. Denis. They married in December 1971 and their son, Jay, was born a year later. They resided in Gray and later, Falmouth, while also being snowbirds, spending half the year down south and the other half in Maine.

Rose was a devoted homemaker, and nothing made her happier than having all her children and their friends, later, their spouses, together for big family gatherings. “Rosie” hosted many extended family gatherings and fondly remembered were the holiday and anniversary parties at their house in Falmouth. She was a wonderful cook and baked a variety of Italian cookies that in later years, she would make together with her daughters.

Rose sometimes worked part-time outside the home as a lunch lady while also helping to run her husband’s driveway paving business. Her hobbies included, sewing, knitting, ceramics, reading romance novels and going to flea markets. Rose also loved her numerous Siamese cats over the years. Favorite pastimes included shopping with her sisters and her daughters, spending time with her siblings and their spouses, having cookouts with family and friends and even just sitting in the sun by the ocean brought her joy. During their retirement years, Rose and Roger lived in Mariaville and Ellsworth, where they enjoyed spending time with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

After her husband passed away in 2011, Rose moved to Alabama with her daughter, Mary, for several years, moving back to Ellsworth when her health started to decline. While in Alabama, she made many dear friends, enjoyed spending time with her son, Joe and his partner, Mona and getting reacquainted with her ex-husband Renee, his wife, Delina, and their family. She also had her heart won over by her dog, ‘Bama, whom she brought back to Maine and whom we know is pining away for her. Rose will be dearly missed by all who knew her and forever in our hearts.

Rose was predeceased by her parents, her husband, Roger A. Denis, and her brothers, Sam, Nick, Tony, Michael, John, Albert, Carroll and Frank; and sisters, Concetta (Chris) and Mary.

She is survived by her daughters, Heidi Langlois (David Jordan) and Mary Austin all of Ellsworth, and her sons, Joe Langlois (Mona Strait) of Zip City, Alabama and Jay (Cheryl) Denis of Portland; along with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; her brothers, Sabatino (Frances) Nappi; Philip (Jutta) Nappi; Joe (Antoinette) Nappi and sister Lucy Butts and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on 1/17/2020 at 1:00pm at Samuel Wilde Memorial Chapel, 672 Stevens Ave, Portland. Rose will be interned with her husband, Roger, at the V.A. Cemetery in Augusta. Special thank you to the doctors and nurses at Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital and to the very special home hospice nurses of Northern Light Health who took such great care of Rose.