Mary Louise “Mary Lou” (Ferreira) Rose, 88, died at her home in Truro surrounded by family on July 2, 2020 after a brief illness. She was the wife of Austin “Ozzie” L. Rose Jr., who died in 2009.
Mary graduated from Provincetown High School in 1951, having been named by her classmates “Best Smile” and “Class Songstress.”
She raised nine children and was always there for them. She volunteered as a den mother with her boys, and as a Girl Scout leader with her girls. She helped out with the Special Olympics as a swimming instructor and delivered Meals on Wheels.
Mary held various jobs over the years to help support the family. She worked with her brother at the Whitman House, and also managed the front desk at the Sandcastle Resort. But she always wanted a big family and her greatest accomplishment in life was raising her children.
In the mid-1960s, Mary and Ozzie bought Roseville Cottages from his mother. They made lifelong friendships there. She loved calling on her sister Ruthie and her dear friend Ann Kelley to help with Saturday cleaning.
Her favorite and best meal was lobster (any style). You never would ask for a bite off her plate. She loved everyone, but you knew not to mess with her lobster. She was an avid sports fan who loved watching golf, especially Tiger Woods. She also loved watching the New England Patriots, and would holler at the television with the rest of her family when the team was messing up or doing well.
She was a life member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 3152, holding many titles from president to secretary at both the local and district levels. She did whatever was needed or asked of her. She was a devoted communicant at St. Peter the Apostle Church in Provincetown.
Mary is survived by her sister, Elaine Gaspa, and husband George, of Falmouth; her sisters-in-law, Nancy Ferreira of Orleans and Alice Ferreira of Chatham; and her children, Austin and wife Dawnne, Leo and wife Tracey, Glen and wife Jen, Mary H. Rose, Timothy and partner Linda, Janice and Raymond Roderick, and Andrew, all of Truro; Diana and Kevin Duarte of Mashpee; and April and Bill Booth of Connecticut.
She is survived also by 19 grandchildren: Richard, Eve, Holly, Leo Jr., Simone, Joseph, Heidi, Nicole, Rebecca, Kellie, Kelsey, Shannon, Kevin, Riley, Austin, Sadie, Thomas, Devin, and Carmen. Her survivors also include 14 great-grandchildren: Theodore, Calvin, James, Jayden, and Aiden, Lauren, Jacob, AJ, Dominic, Zachary, Matthew, Rylee, Steven, and Theo, as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.
In addition to Ozzie, her husband of 57 years, she was predeceased by her parents, Isadore and Philomena (Cordeiro) Ferreira, by her baby girl, Anna Noreen (who was a twin), who died at birth in 1965, and siblings James, Wilfred, Ruth, and Edwin, and daughter-in-law Edith May (Costa) Rose. Grandchildren Anna Noelle, Abby Rose Booth, and Brian Dumont also predeceased her.
Because of the current Covid-19 health crisis, Mary’s funeral Mass will be private. Burial will be in Snow’s Cemetery, Truro. To share a memory or leave an online condolence message for the family, visit gatelyfuneralservice.com.
