Libia G. Rosa

Libia Maddaelina (Gargiulo) Rosa, 102, died peacefully with her son Richard present on January 20, 2015. She had been living at Bethel Nursing Home in Croton-On-Hudson, New York. Libia was born in the family homestead in Stamford, CT on September 17, 1912. She was predeceased by her parents, August and Katherine (Claps) Gargiulo, her husband of 63 years Louis Rosa and her Daughter Bianca R. Bucciarelli, her sisters, Maria Gargiulo, Norma G Bornhauser, Alda G. Giannini, her Brother Alfred A. Gargiulo. She is survived by her son Richard August Rosa of Pound Ridge, NY, her Granddaughters Elissa Bucciarelli and Wendy Bucciarelli and Great Granddaughter Hanna Dereje all of Florida, a sister-in-law Gisele Gargiulo in Torrington, CT and many nieces and nephews and cousins. Libia grew up in Stamford, CT. She was a student of the Stamford School System. She graduated from 8th grade with honors. Libia postponed her High School education upon her Father’s untimely death in 1926, to stay home and raise her brother and sisters while their mother Katherine ran the family business “August Gargiulo Grocer and Fruiterer” in Stamford, CT. After playing an influential role in her siblings’ upbringing, Libia entered a lifetime career in the Fashion Industry. Libia learned her basic skills from her Mother and Grandmother, and then was tutored in the finer aspects of fashion and dressmaking by Madame Alexander of Greenwich, CT. Her many decades in the Fashion industry began at the Square Silk Shop on Atlantic Street and Kramer Brothers on Broad Street, where she made custom tailored clothing for a large and varied clientele. Libia then moved onto the theatre production company “The Paper Bag” players of New Jersey. From there she was discovered by NBC and worked as a designer/dressmaker for the Radio City Music Hall Production Company- The Rocketts! After leaving NBC, libia saw an opportunity to be closer to her beloved Pound Ridge and Stamford and worked as the Head Designer and Dressmaker for the Cherida Dress Shop in New Canaan, CT where customers came for custom designed clothing. After 18 years with Cherida, it was time to branch out and have her own business, for the rest of her career, she had the privilege to sew and design for a roster of famous clientele- Jerry & Patti Bock, Sylvia Porter, Erma Bombeck, Pauline Trigere, Colleen Dewhurst, Hume Cronin and Jessica Tandy, Eartha Kit, Evan Hunter and many others. Libia also established a busy Upholstery Business. Her Upholstery and Drapery work are still installed at Kykuit in Pocantico Hills, NY, the Boscobel Restoration in Garrison NY, Sagamore Hill in Oyster Bay, NY and many private homes throughout the area. During all this, Libia made time to teach sewing at Pins and Needles to young children and mentoring young boys via telephone for the Omaha Home for Boys. Libia was active in many clubs and organizations. She believed in Volunteering and freely gave of her time to many charitable causes. She was active in her Church, The Pound Ridge Community Church and also was the past President of the Pound Ridge Women’s Auxiliary of the Pound Ridge Volunteer Fire Department. Libia, along with her husband Louis was a recipient of the Pound Ridge Good Neighbor Award in 1997 and special honors at the United Nations in 2007, based on an essay “Earth’s Elders” by Claire Schact. Burial will be private, taking place in Woodland Cemetery in Stamford, CT. A Memorial service will take place at the Pound Ridge Community Church on January 31, 2015 at 1:00PM, immediately followed by a reception for family and friends in the Church’s Commons Room. In Lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial gift in Libia’s name to the Pound Ridge Community Church, 3 Pound Ridge, Pound Ridge NY 10576 or the Omaha Home for Boys, 4343 N. 52nd St., Omaha, NE 68104. Online condolences may be made at www.leopgallagherstamford.com