Rosa DiVenuto Shaheen, 95, passed away on Tuesday, June 15, 2021. A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, June 19, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, with Father Scott Winchell officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, North Gate. A Rosary will be said on Friday, June 18, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. at Snow’s Memorial Chapel, 1419 Bass Road in Macon.
Rosa was born in Macon to the late Enrico DiVenuto and Santina Cominotto DiVenuto. She attended A.L. Miller High School and Mercer University. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Louis Joseph Shaheen, Sr. who she met at a USO dance in the basement of St. Joseph Church after WW2. Rosa and Louie were happily married for 55 years and celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in that same church basement where they first met. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Henry DiVenuto and her sister, Marcella DiVenuto Wood.
Rosa is survived by her four children and their spouses. Louis Joseph Jr. (Joey) and Carrie Shaheen of Tampa, FL; Susan and Jack Harshbarger of Dahlonega, GA; Janet and Morgan Wood of Macon, GA; and Tina Marie Shaheen, of Macon, GA; seven grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and many nieces & nephews. There was never any doubt that Rosa considered her family her greatest treasure, and there was never a dull moment in their household with fun loving parents. Since she was a first generation child in America, she knew the key to success was a good education and she drilled that into her children, students, and later her grandchildren & great grands. Rosa was proud that her hard work paid off and took full credit for producing a lawyer, 6 teachers, 2 anesthetists, an actuary, an engineer and two Eagle Scouts.
Rosa enjoyed people, great jokes, dancing, Notre Dame football, playing the piano with great grandchildren and laughing a lot. She was blessed with lifelong friends from childhood, church, her clubs, and the wonderful families of the children that she taught in kindergarten for 25 years at St. Joseph School where she was affectionately known as “Miss Machine”. Visiting with her former students at church and keeping up with their lives brought her great joy. She volunteered for many years at St. Joseph Church with youth groups, Cub Scouts, Silver Tops senior dances, sending cards to church members, leading tours at St. Joseph Church and working as a Cherry Blossom volunteer. She was honored to be a part of the Macon Woman’s Club and served as President for two terms. Over the years Rosa received various awards for dedicated service including the Francis DeSales Award from Mt. de Sales Academy and the Gartland Service Award from the Catholic Diocese of Savannah. She lived a great life, still cruising the world in her nineties, and enjoying her wonderful friends. Who could ask for more?
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St. Joseph Church, St. Joseph School, Mt. de Sales Academy, or the charity of your choice in her honor.
Please visit www.snowsmacon.com to express condolences.
Snow’s Memorial Chapel, Bass Road, has charge of the arrangements.
