Rosemary Earley

The lifelong Staten Islander was born Rosemary Pucciarelli in Rosebank. She also lived briefly in South Beach, but returned to Rosebank, where she spent most of her life. She entered Carmel Richmond Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, Dongan Hills, nine months ago.

She graduated from the former St. Peter's Girls High School.

Mrs. Earley retired in 1995 from the Hapag-Lloyd Shipping Line, where she worked as a bookkeeper. Earlier, she worked at Gillardi & Sons Produce in Rosebank for many years.

She was a member of the Twins' Mothers Club, and had kept in touch with friends from the group since her sons were very young.

She was quiet, but had many friends, her family said. When she was in the nursing home, they coordinated their visits to make sure she always had a friend by her side.

Mrs. Earley delighted in time spent with her family, particularly her grandchildren. She loved to read, and also enjoyed playing cards with friends and doing jigsaw puzzles.

She was a devout Catholic and attended mass daily at St. Mary's R.C. Church, Rosebank, where she was a parishioner. After going to the nursing home, she went to mass there each day as well.

Paul, her husband of 52 years, died in 2007.

Surviving are her sons, Paul and David; two brothers, Anthony and James Pucciarelli; three sisters, Mary DeRosa, Kathryn Arcolio and Teresa Smonig, and three grandchildren.

The funeral will be Thursday from the Virginia Funeral Chapel, Dongan Hills, with a mass at 10 a.m. in St. Mary's Church. Burial will follow in Ocean View Cemetery, Oakwood.