A memorial service celebrating Rudy’s life will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Greensboro. The family will receive friends and loved ones from 5:00 until 8:00 PM on Friday evening, September 26, 2025, at Hanes-Lineberry Sedgefield Chapel, 6000 West Gate City Blvd., Greensboro, NC 27407.
Born in Mineola, New York on December 21, 1958, Rudy graduated with an MDiv from Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Indiana in 1993. For the past 28 years he served as a Lutheran Pastor, until his health forced him to resign in 2021. He served congregations in New Orleans, LA; Dayton, IA; Mt. Pocono, PA; and Conover, NC. Prior to graduating from seminary, he served in the United States Army and later worked as a cook in various Italian restaurants. Rudy was very proud of his time in the Army.
Above all, Rudy loved his Lord. He loved his family, his pets (all animals really), his country and was a big fan of Frank Sinatra. He was a huge NY Yankees fan and was a big history buff, (particularly of the Civil War and World War II). Rudy enjoyed reading and when his medical issues made reading difficult, he listened to many podcasts about history and politics, as well as audiobooks. He was a member of Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Greensboro. Rudy was preceded in death by his father, Anthony DeRosa.
Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Mary DeRosa of Jamestown, NC; his mother, Wilma DeRosa of Jamestown, NC; brother, Anton DeRosa (Ruth) of Eastchester, NY; sister, Trudy Delling (Randall) of Walkertown, NC; brother-in-law, Robert Norton of High Point, NC; nieces and nephews, Wendy Gumpert (Gary) of Myrtle Beach, SC, Timothy Delling (Jessie) of Winooski, VT, Shawn McMahan of Stanley, ID, Aaron DeRosa (Erin) of Upland, CA, Anton DeRosa (Ji) of Seoul, Korea; great-nieces and great-nephews, Toni Brand (Austin), Kaly Gumpert, Scott Gumpert, Aryn Marvill (Will), Chase Austin (Bailey), Peyton McMahan; two great great-nephews, Ryder Brand and Burley DeRosa; his goddaughter, Christine Chalfant-Pirone (Ashley); his “brother from another mother”, Daniel Pirone and of course, his beloved pets Alvin (cat) and Rambo (dog).
Memorial contributions may be made to Ebenezer Lutheran Church, 310 S. Tremont Dr., Greensboro, NC 27403; Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10306-3159; or Clover’s Clubhouse (cat rescue), 304 Cedar Lodge Road, Thomasville, NC 27360.
Online condolences may be made at www.haneslineberryfhsedgefield.com
