Obituary of Rose Gertrude Lopergolo

Rose (Blew) Lopergolo, 81, passed away peacefully, with her children at her side, on April 4, 2011, at South Jersey Healthcare, Regional Medical Center, after a brief illness. Rose was born in the Willow Grove section of Vineland, to the late John and Marie (Lombardo) Blew. She remained a lifelong resident of Vineland, where she lived surrounded by her family. After graduating from Vineland High School in 1946, Rose went to work for Bell Telephone as an operator, and then for Shieldalloy in Newfield where she served as an Administrative Secretary. Rose married her husband, Frank, in 1953, joining him for several years working for Lopergolo Produce in Vineland. They later established Lopergolo Real Estate, and worked side by side for more than thirty years building a successful real estate and brokerage business. Running their business from a home office for many years allowed Rose and Frank to devote countless hours to their favorite pastime, enjoying their grandchildren. When not spending time with her family, Rose enjoyed traveling with her husband by motor home to West Virginia and Blue Mountain Lake. Later in her life, she also traveled Europe with her good friends and travel partners. A talented artist and craft-maker, Rose enjoyed crafting for the Grandparents Association of Notre Dame School. She was an avid gardener who loved being outside, spending countless summer days watching her grandchildren and all of the neighborhood kids enjoying her pool, and many summer nights sitting outside or on her porch reading. Rose leaves to cherish her memory her daughter & husband, Cindy & Jim Brooks of Vineland; son & wife, Michael F. & Monica Lopergolo of Waldorf, Maryland; Francis J. Lopergolo Jr., of Vineland; sister, Helen Garrison, sisters-in-law, Marie Martini & Loretta Pannullo, and brother-in-law & wife Michael & Donna Lopergolo, all of Vineland; grandchildren Anthony and Lou Ann Brooks, Marissa & Jeff Travaline, Jimmy and Danielle Brooks, and Michael John Lopergolo; Frankie Lopergolo, of Santiago, Chile, and Allison Lopergolo, of Savannah, Georgia; along with many beloved nieces and nephews. The lights of her life were her great-grandchildren Catie Rose & Lucas Brooks, and Jackson & Jayce Travaline. Rose was predeceased by her husband Frank J. Lopergolo in 2002. Funeral liturgy will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday in St. Rose of Lima Church, Newfield. Burial will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Vineland. Friends will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday and again from 8:15 to 9:15 a.m. at Rone Funeral Services, 1010 East Chestnut Ave., Vineland. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cumberland County SPCA, 1244 North Delsea Drive, Vineland NJ 08360, the American Cancer Society, 250 Williams Street, NW, Atlanta, GA 30303, or the charity of your choice.