Rose Marie Peterson, 89, passed away on July 11th, 2025, at Orchard Manor in Grove City, Pennsylvania. She was surrounded by her family for the two weeks that led up to her passing. She was born into a Catholic family in Aliquippa on November 30th, 1935, a daughter of the late Lorenzo and Anastasia DelTondo, who she loved deeply. Rose often said that she was “the last Rose of November.” In addition to her parents, Rose was preceded in death by her husband, William “Bill” Michael Peterson, her brother, Felice “Phil” and his wife Carolyn DelTondo and her sister, Mary Mullins. She is survived by her three children, Linda Peterson (Ed Cline), William Peterson, and Michael Peterson (Nancy Luna), her brother-in-law, Robert Mullins, her nieces and nephew, Rachael, Magic and Jeffery, her five granddaughters, April, Holly, Lydia, Jennifer, and Taryn and her great-grandchildren, Kaelin, Benjamin and Charlotte.
Rose was many things: a daughter, who learned to cook Italian meals with love; a wife, who tended bar and shot pool alongside her husband at their bar, Rose and Bill’s Fifth Street Cafe; a mother, who raised a nurse and two police officers; and a grandmother, who lived with her son and triplet granddaughters who taught them everything her parents had taught her.
Due to her progressing dementia, Rose spent her last two golden years at Orchard Manor, only fifteen minutes away from her home in Grove City. Even in her old age, Rose was known as the “firecracker” of the skilled nursing facility. Despite her initial escape attempts, she grew to call Orchard Manor a second home because of the loving individuals who took care of her.
Rose’s memory will always consist of regularly bowling a 185, dancing with her left-footed triplets to Mollie B.’s Polka Party and playing cards because “her father told her not to.” Her resilience and strength will continue to inspire all that had the pleasure of knowing her over the 89 years of her beautiful life.
All services for Rose were private. The family would like to thank GABAUER-LUTTON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, Inc., 117 Blackhawk Road, Beaver Falls, PA 15010, for caring for Rose during this difficult time. This funeral home was in charge of her arrangements.