Rose M. Kennedy

Rose M. Kennedy, 99, passed away peacefully in her sleep on October 4th, 2025. Born in Manhattan, she was the daughter of the late Biagio and Biagia Pace and sister to the late Vincenza Caruso. Rose was the beloved wife of the late Thomas M. Kennedy for 65 years.

Rose was the devoted mother of 6 children, the late Thomas J. (Marilyn), Anne Tremble (Lee), James (the late Teresa), Michael (Susan), Robert (Laura) and Maryellen Yale (Mark). She was predeceased by daughter-in-law Linda Zeno.

Rose was the proud grandmother of 22 grandchildren, Thomas (Michelle), Brianne (Frank), Meghan, Sean, Corey (Joanna), Kaitlyn (Michael), Jennifer (Joseph), Lauren, Rebecca, Aimee (Joseph), Brittany (Barry), Kerry (Kyle), Danielle (Chad), Michael (Deirdre), Christopher (fiancé Olivia), Jennifer (Davis), Alyssa, Sarah, Matthew (fiancé Jessica), Jessica and Emma. She was predeceased by her first grandson Ryan Kennedy Tremble.

Rose was the blessed great-grandmother of 23 great-grandchildren, Olivia, Jack, Frankie, Zoe, Mia, Freya, Harper, Blake, Jack, Lily, Grace, JJ, Abby, Logan, Thomas, Joey, Nathan, Zoë, Nolan, Connor, Scarlett, Ethan and MJ who affectionately referred to her as “GG”.

Rose grew up in the Bronx where she attended James Monroe High School. Not long after graduation, she met her future husband, Tom, on a blind date. It was then that they learned that they lived across the street from each other and had gone to the same high school. They married in 1948 and left the city in 1952 to raise their family in Westwood, NJ where Rose would remain for the next 73 years.

Although raising her family was always her priority, Rose often took jobs locally until she transitioned to a full-time career at Lehn & Fink in Montvale, NJ where she continued on for 20 years.

Upon retirement, Rose and Tom traveled extensively, served as Eucharistic Ministers at Assumption Church in Emerson, became more involved in the Westwood Elks and enjoyed watching their family continue to grow.

Rose will always be remembered for her kind heart, unwavering faith, and love for her family.

Visitation will be held on Friday, October 24th, 2025 from 2:00-7:00 p.m. at Becker Funeral Home in Westwood. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a funeral mass at Assumption Church in Emerson on Saturday, October 25th, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Contributions in Rose’s memory can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, www.stjude.org.