Adeline Rogers

Adeline “Del” Anna Rogers, age 94, of Naples, Florida, formerly of Rancho Palos Verdes, California, and Chicago, Illinois passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, on January 28, 2024. Del was the youngest daughter of Michael and Julia Labny and the loving sister of Marie Labny, Irene Lelko, and Edward Labny. She was the cherished wife of Roger Walter Rogers, her husband of 68 years who passed away in 2018. She was the beloved mother of Susan Jo Rogers, Paul Michael Kessler Rogers (Karyn), and Mark Michael Rogers She was the greatly loved paternal grandmother to Brett Michael Rogers, Caitlyn Marie Rogers and Estella Sofia Delayne Rogers. Grandma’s loving spirit was felt by Isabela, Hudson, Aisla and Owen Mallett. Del’s love touched many lives, especially Chrissy Rogers and Bruce and Lynn Smith.

There will be a Memorial Mass held on February 24, 2024 at 10:00am at St John the Evangelist Catholic Church, located at 625 111th Ave. North, Naples, Florida 34108.

The family will receive friends at Hodges Funeral Home, next to the church at 525 111th Ave N, Naples, FL 34108 following the Funeral Mass, from 11am-1pm.

Reflections on a Life of True Devotion

Del was born Adeline Anna Rogers, on July 1, 1929 in Chicago, Illinois. The youngest of four children, she grew up with a deep love for her mother, her family, the Church, the Blessed Mother, her Polish heritage, her friends, and America. As a young girl, Del lived in the Bridgeport neighborhood of Chicago. Her father passed away while she was young, and following his passing, Del’s mother ran the family grocery store on Hillock Avenue. Del and her family lived in a small two bedroom house behind the store. All of the children helped out in the store and stayed close to each other and with their mother throughout their lives. A bright, kind, and fun loving girl, Del did well in school and was an active part of her church and community. Following her high school graduation, she worked at the Auto Club (AAA) in downtown Chicago where she made many close friends with whom she stayed in touch throughout her life.

Del met her future husband, Roger, a WWII veteran, at a friend’s wedding. Del, who was seven years younger than Roger, made a lasting impression on him. A box of Valentine’s Day chocolates from Roger was a first step in what was to be an extraordinary love that lasted their entire lives. The couple was married on October 1, 1950, and all who knew them together as a couple were moved by their deep love, respect, and commitment to and for each other.

After they were married, the couple moved to Los Angeles, California, but after moving to LA, Del became homesick. They put their belongings in storage and decided to move back to Chicago; however, after returning to Chicago, Del decided that Los Angeles was actually the right place for their family, and so they moved back. First they settled in Holly Park, in what is now Inglewood, and then, in 1968, they moved to a home on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, which had a panoramic view of the city of Los Angeles and where they stayed for many years. Although Del loved Santa Barbara and they had bought property there, a water moratorium interrupted their plans to build a house and so they decided instead to retire in Naples, Florida.

In 1960, Del and Roger were blessed with their daughter, Susan, through adoption. In 1962, they were blessed again with their son, Paul, also through adoption. In 1972, they were blessed yet again with the birth of their son, Mark. A devoted and loving mother, Del passed along to her children a spirit of adventure, a commitment to service, a love of learning, and a deep sense of morality, faith, and values.

A devoted wife and mother, Del ran a loving and beautiful home. Always healthy, she made her own yogurt, ate tofu, and included vegetables with every evening meal. And, while there was dessert after every dinner, she made sure the snacks in the house were healthy: no soft drinks, no sugar cereals. She loved to listen to Vin Scully call the Los Angeles Dodger baseball games and Regis Philben on talk radio, and she favored the music of Perry Como, Bing Crosby, and the Andrews Sisters throughout her life.

Everything Del did as a mother, she did with great love and the children each have sweet and lasting memories that they will forever cherish of their Mom. Del made every one of Susan’s school lunches with love and care, she read with Paul as a young boy in a way that excited him to keep reading and learning throughout his life, and she drove Mark and his best friend Chris to the local surf spots in Palos Verdes where she would stay and happily watch them surf. To her children, she was always there.

Vacations were an important part of family life and Del was always up for an adventure. When the children were young, the family took many road trips in a camper that sat on the back of Roger’s blue Ford F-250 pickup truck. They traveled to many of America’s National Parks (Zion, Bryce, Yellowstone, Sequoia, Redwood, and more) where they hiked, cooked marshmallows over the fire, and played board games at night like Parchissi. As the children got older, and Paul went to college and Susan to the Army, Roger, Del and Mark took longer trips to places like New Zealand and Hawaii. In their retirement years, Del and Roger continued to travel, visiting Ireland, Poland, Scotland, Italy and many other countries on organized bus tours, which they both loved. Wherever Del went, she loved to explore. Whether it was hiking to Old Faithful in Yellowstone or visiting the Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii, the concentration camps in Poland or the Vatican Museum in Rome, Del filled her travel days with activity as she loved to learn and explore.

Del loved her family, especially her mother to whom she remained devoted throughout her life. Del also had a deep love for her older sister Mamie, her older brother Eddie and his family, as well as her older sister Irene and her family with whom she remained very close throughout their lives. Irene’s visits to Naples were a joy for both Roger and Del, and the days and nights they spent together were filled with laughter, stories, good food, card games, and love.

Del’s love touched her extended family too, and she brought kindness and warmth to her nieces and nephews, and their children, in ways that will always be remembered. As a Grandmother, Del was very thoughtful in the way she created a safe, fun, and loving environment for Brett, Caitliyn, and Estella. She embraced her role as Grandma with all of her heart. Together with Roger, she showered her grandchildren with affection and love, and the two of them left an indelible imprint of character, kindness, faith, and love on the lives of their family.

The Catholic faith was always a central part of Del’s life. Del’s commitment to prayer, devotional reading, attending mass, participating in the sacraments, and actively supporting the community of the Church were constant sources of strength throughout her life. Her dedication to the Virgin Mary was tangible, and she would retreat daily to her room to pray and read. Her prayers made a real difference in many lives.

Del put her faith into action as a volunteer throughout her life, especially for the Little Sisters of the Poor in San Pedro, where she worked full time as the volunteer coordinator. She also volunteered in a variety of other roles at St. John Fisher in Palos Verdes, and at St. John the Evangelist in Naples. Her service was carried out with humility, sweetness, reverence for God, and sincere care for the people in her community. She also volunteered at Collier Hospital, and she helped facilitate English language and citizenship classes in South Florida. Del’s uncompromising faith and strong convictions were visible in her actions to everyone who knew her. She led by example, and her steadfast faith in Jesus, Mary, and the Catholic Church continues on in those who knew and loved her.

Del’s commitment to her faith was matched by her devotion to Roger. The two were inseparable, except when Roger was fishing or at work. Their 50th wedding anniversary was a celebration that all who attended will always remember. In the later years of her life, Del struggled with cognitive decline and lost most of her ability to speak. Once at a neurological exam, the doctor gave Del a piece of paper to write on. She hadn't communicated more than a few words for many months to anyone. She wrote on the paper, "I love my husband." It is almost impossible to think of Roger and Del separately and it is a comfort to know that they are now reunited in heaven. The example of their love is a true inspiration to all who witnessed it.

Towards the end of her life, Del was blessed by the friendship and love of Maggie Diaz and her family to whom she became a Grandmother. Del’s children wish to express their sincere gratitude to the Diaz family and to all the caregivers who loved and supported their Mom at the sunset of her life.

A loving and ever faithful daughter, sister, friend, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, Catholic, and child of God, Del’s loss is deeply felt by all who knew her. She will be greatly missed each day. Her sweetness, love, and faith will live on in the hearts of all who were blessed to know her.