Rosanna Naplen Lewis

Rosanna “Rosie” (Naplen) Lewis, age 67, passed away peacefully in her home on August 12, 2021 in Colleyville, TX after a valiant three year battle with Pancreatic Cancer. She was surrounded by her family.

Rosie was born on April 30, 1954 in Erie, Pennsylvania. She remembered fondly her gymnastics on the lawn with neighborhood friends, and going to the beach and playing in the sand and ocean waves. She went to Catholic school and was a good student who excelled in math, spelling and handwriting. Her family moved to Florida when she was in grade school. Her father, a Greyhound bus driver, passed away when she was 16. Rosie attended Sawyer Business College, but also worked as a candy-striper, or hospital volunteer, caring for patients. She worked in business services at GTE (now, Verizon) in Tampa where she met her husband. Rosie and Ron married on Thanksgiving Day in 1979 with a small ceremony in Lowrie Park. In a letter to her husband, penned before her passing, she wrote, “When we started to date, I always felt you were my true soulmate.”

Rosie adopted Ron’s first daughter, Stephanie, as her own. Rosie’s proudest family moment was the birth and survival of their youngest daughter, Randi, in 1982 who weighed 1 pound 15 ounces. They were so blessed that God was not ready for Randi yet. Ron and Rosie officially moved to Texas in 1989, and renewed their wedding vows when Ron converted to Catholicism in 1993. They cared for her mother Helen, or Grammie to everyone who knew her, in their home for the last ten years of Grammie’s life.

Rosie loved decorating with antiques and sure loved shopping. She took pride in making her home a beautiful space. She embraced her friends as family, always. Game nights and dress-up parties with friends were a source of great joy. Rosie loved her chickens, turkeys, guineas, and cats and dogs. She would often stop in the middle of the road to rescue a stray animal.

Rosie managed a few trips to Florida to spend time with life-long friends after her diagnosis, and enjoyed a special trip to the Texas coast with her family. She was always so giving and frequently told her grandsons, “I love you more.” Her family will forever remember the special moments in her last week of life as Rosie showed in every way she could how much she loved them, even if it was just to raise an eyebrow or move her lips.

She is preceded in death by her parents Ninsi Joseph Naplen, PA, and Helen Ann Naplen, Keller, TX, and her brother Stanley Joseph Naplen, Maggie Valley, NC.

Rosie Lewis is survived by her husband of 41 years, Ronnie “Ron” W. Lewis, Colleyville, TX; her two daughters Stephanie Lewis, of McDade, TX and Randi (Lewis) Tatsch and husband, Taylor Tatsch, of Fredericksburg, TX; her two grandsons Hudson James and Jude William; and her sister Marlene Springer of Maggie Valley, NC.

FUNERAL:

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

2016 Willis Lane, Keller, TX 76248

Friday, August 20, 2021

1:30 PM – Rosary

2:00 PM – Service / Mass

Face masks and social distancing required

RECEPTION:

Immediately following service at Parish Hall

3:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Face masks and social distancing required

DONATIONS:

In lieu of flowers, Rosie has requested donations in her honor be made to St. Jude’s Children's Medical Center by clicking the link below.