Rosalie Berdeguez

Rosalia Spata Berdeguez passed away on 25 September at the age of 77, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. She was born in Italy daughter of Nicolo & Maria Spata. She was married for over 59 years to Julio “Peppy” Berdeguez. Theirs was truly a love story like “West Side Story”, only with a happy ending. When asked if she was a Yankee or Dodger fan by Peppy she replied, “I’m Italian”. In an age where marriages required the blessing of the parents; she opted to elope and marry the man she loved. It was two years before she received the blessing from her parents. A beauty school graduate, she worked in Manhattan as a beautician until moving to Long Island, NY.

All three of her children were born in NY. The family moved to Florida in 1971. Peppy & Rosalie founded Peppy’s Pest Control (Slogan was “Hired Killer”). Their middle son took over the business and it became A Hired Killer, Inc.

All three boys served in the Military. Nick a retired USAF pilot now flies for Jet Blue. Steve a former USAF aviation mechanic took over the family business and James a retired Navy Captain & civil servant owns and operates The James Gang Printing Company in Ocean Beach, California.

Rosalie is survived by her husband Peppy; their three sons Nicholas, Stephen and James Berdeguez; grandchildren, Scott, Shane, Alicia and Kyle Berdeguez; great grandchildren, Noriah, Kaiden and Shane Berdeguez. Another great grandson Rhyse is due to Rozalyn and Shane Berdeguez in November. She is also survived by daughter in laws, Cynthia Bottoms Berdeguez, Elizabeth Tinnell Berdeguez and Irene Todora and her sisters Grace and her husband Joseph Adragna and Josephine and her husband Leo DiGrazia.

A viewing will be held on Saturday 29 September 2012 between 2 and 4 pm at Volusia Memorial Funeral Home in Port Orange. This will be a celebration of the life of Rosalie and her marriage to Peppy Berdeguez. Bring your dancing shoes and be prepared to sing!

In lieu of flowers donations in her memory may be made to Halifax Health Hospice of Port Orange, Florida.