Rose Sarah Tillinghast-Fannon

Rosalie Sarah Tillinghast-Fannon died on November 10, 2024. Rose is survived by her five children: Joanne Tillinghast (Ellery Eells), Margaret Runge (Christopher), Stephen Tillinghast (Linda), Theresa Tillinghast (Timothy Krenz), Paul Tillinghast (Carrie), her six stepchildren: Donald Fannon Jr. (Joanne), Joseph Fannon (Kathy), Christopher Fannon (Kerry), Susan VanderDecker (William), Mary Jane Gruver (Michael), Thomas Fannon (Irene), 28 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her father Joseph, her mother Norah, her first husband Joseph Tillinghast, her second husband Donald Fannon, and her sister Mary Gormley.

Rose was born October 2, 1930, to Joseph and Norah Popp and grew up alongside her sister Mary (Gormley d.) in The Bronx, New York. She married Joseph Tillinghast in 1953 and moved to Wappingers Falls, New York a few years later, where they raised their five children. She had a strong Catholic faith and was an active member of St. Mary’s Church in Wappingers, where her children attended school. She was an active member of neighborhood and youth organizations. She worked for several years at Oak Grove Elementary School as a teacher’s assistant for children with special needs. She loved feeding people and was a creative and accomplished baker and cook. After Joe’s death in 1988, she met Donald Fannon. They married in 1995 and lived in LeRoy, New York. Rose was delighted to add six stepchildren to her circle of love. Together she and Don enjoyed traveling the country and the world. In 2013 they moved to Parkville, Maryland. Don died in 2017.

Her greatest joy was being surrounded by family and friends. She embraced life, was always active, and always pitched in. She hated injustice, always rooted for the underdog, and had strong opinions about almost everything.

Rose's funeral will be held at Oakcrest Chapel, Parkville, MD on January 4, 2025 at 10am. Her burial will be at St. Mary's Church in Wappingers Falls, NY in May. Memorial donations may be made to BreakthroughT1D ( a juvenile diabetes research organization) at www.breakthrought1d.org.