Rose M. Volpe

ROSE MARIE VOLPE (nee Troia), age 70. Beloved wife of the late Robert; devoted mother of Michelle Volpe-Kohler (Christian) and the late Christopher; cherished grandmother of Cash and Luca Kohler; dear daughter of the late Sesto and Lucia Troia; caring sister of Yvonne Marston (Michael), Janney Freeman (William), Janice Lemmon (Christopher); loving aunt, cousin and friend of many.   

Rose was born October 10, 1954, in Monca, Pennsylvania, to Lucia and Sestilio (Sesto) Troia. About 30 minutes outside of Pittsburgh, Monaca was a common destination for Italian immigrants, including from the Abbruzzi region where her parents were from. Rose and her three sisters–Yvonne, Janney, and Janet–grew up in a close-knit community with many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends where they celebrated both their Italian and American heritage. 

Rose excelled in school and was especially skilled in public speaking, for which she won multiple awards. She graduated from Monaca High School in 1973 with honors.

Rose met her husband Robert Volpe in 1971. She was the maid-of-honor in the wedding of her good friend and next-door neighbor, Marisa, who married Mario Volpe of Lorain, Ohio; Robert was Mario’s brother and best man and hit it off with Rose right away. 

They married on September 22,1973, and honeymooned in Miami. They had two children, Michelle and Christopher. Rose was a dedicated mother and wife. 

Rose was kind, generous, creative, and hardworking, and it shone through everything she did. Her creativity in particular was evident in her daily life, from how she dressed, cooked, decorated her home, and gardened. From roses to gladiola to boxwood to hibiscus, she could make anything grow and thrive.

Rose held various jobs over the years, but spent most of her career in the Public Service Department at the City of Middleburg Heights. In addition to her customer service, organization, and communication skills, she is remembered for making City Hall festive during holidays, especially Christmas. She created beautiful trees and other decor that brought joy to everyone who entered the building. 

Rose is beloved by so many people. Her family, friends, neighbors, and former colleagues miss her greatly. Rose was one of a kind and truly irreplaceable.

In lieu of flowers, donations requested to uhgiving.org or incarnatewordacademy.org  

Mass of Christian Burial 10:00 am Thursday, January 9, 2025 at St. John Bosco Parish, 6480 Pearl Rd., Parma Hts. (EVERYONE MEET AT CHURCH) Inurnment Woodvale Cemetery.

The family will receive friends WEDNESDAY 4-6 PM at the A. RIPEPI AND SONS FUNERAL HOME, 18149 BAGLEY RD., MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS (WEST OF I-71)