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Mrs.Rose Marie Sapienza Mead

By Joshua Smith

Oakfield – Mrs. Rose Marie Sapienza Mead, age 96 of Oakfield, passed away on Friday, April 3, 2020 at her daughter’s home in Honeoye, NY.

Mrs. Mead, born on September 26, 1923 in Oakfield, was the eldest daughter of the late James and Agnes Shilen Sapienza.  Rose was a lifelong resident of Oakfield and graduated from OACS in 1939.  She attended the University of

Rochester, graduating with a degree in Bachelor of Arts in 1944.  Mrs. Mead spent a summer at Middlebury College in Vermont, enrolled in a graduate program at the La Maison (The French House).  At various times in her career, she taught French, Latin and English, with French being her primary teaching assignment. Rose was also fluent in Italian and Spanish.  She enjoyed baking, knitting, playing the piano, scrabble and crossword puzzles.  Her greatest pleasure was spending time with family.

Rose was an active member of the St. Padre Parish/St. Cecilia’s, participating in various activities such as:  music ministry, RCIA, Faith Formation, Vicariate, and Altar and Rosary Society.  She also belonged to the Genesee County Retired Teachers Association, and the Oakfield-Alabama Historical Society since it was organized in 1998.

Mrs. Mead is predeceased by her husband, James Lavers Mead, her brother Dominic (Luella) Sapienza, and several nieces and nephews.

Survivors include her daughter, Nancy (Cliff) Andres of Honeoye; son, Michael Mead of Penfield; six grand children: Matthew Andres, Rachel Andres, Jessica Andres, Sarah Andres, David (Venessa) Mead, and Kevin Mead; her great-grand-daughter Sylvia Mead; two sisters: Louise (Carl) Mancino and Marion (Tom) Brown all of New Port Richey, Florida.  She is also survived by 16 nieces and nephews, and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.

Public visitation for Rose and her Mass of Christian Burial will be held at a later date.  She will be laid to rest in St. Cecilia’s Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, contributions in Rose’s memory may be made to St. Padre Pio Altar and Rosary Society in care of St. Padre Pio Parish, 56 Maple Avenue, Oakfield, New York 14125; or Oakfield-Alabama Central School Foreign Language Club, 7001 Lewiston Road, Oakfield, New York 14125; or the Ontario-Yates Hospice, a program of UR Medicine Home Care, 756 Pre Emption Road, Geneva, New York 14456-1336.  To leave a condolence, share a story or light a candle in Rose’s name please visit www.burdettandsanford.com

Arrangements were entrusted to the Burdett & Sanford Funeral Home, Oakfield.

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