Rose Reed

Rose U. Reed passed away peacefully on her 101st birthday, September 25, 2014, at the Norwich Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Norwich. Rose and her daughter Angela were together reading birthday greetings from friends and family when Rose quietly slipped away.

Rose was the daughter of Nicola Campagnale and Angelina Cimorelli Campagnale. She was born on September 25, 1913. She grew up in Brooklyn, NY, the oldest of eight children. She graduated from Girls Commercial High School in Brooklyn. She attended City College of New York. While working in New York City she met her husband Lawrence Lester Reed. They were married in 1936 in NYC. Lawrence served in the Navy during WW II. After he was discharged from the Navy they moved to Norwich where he built a career as journalist and photographer for the Binghamton Press.

Rose and Lawrence became active members of the Chenango County community and St. Bartholomew’s Parish. Rose placed a high value on education. She was proud to be a part of a group of dedicated individuals who worked to get new schools built including Gibson and Perry Brown Schools. She continued this service as a member of the Board of Education of the Norwich Central School District. The value she placed on education led her to strongly encourage her children and grandchildren to attend college. She was pleased that she was able to see them all receive college degrees and was working on her great grandchildren to look ahead to college.

Her husband, Lawrence, passed away in 1961. After his death she was employed by The Norwich Pharmacal Company. She had many fond memories of working with the veterinarians in the veterinary pharmaceutical division and having the opportunity to meet doctors and scientists from all over the world. In 1967 Rose went back to school herself. She worked for the Dean of Students at Cornell University, Ithaca, and then at Finch College in NYC. At Finch one of her responsibilities was as Student Advisor in the Finch Intercontinental Study Plan. She treasured memories of traveling with her students to Portugal, Spain and Italy to study the art and culture of those countries.

In 1974 she returned to Norwich and married Albert C. Foster. With Albert she started a new career in real estate as a broker, appraiser and assessor for the Town of Plymouth. After Albert passed away, Rose began spending winters in Corona del Mar, CA with her son Nicholas and his wife Gena. Rose moved there full time in 1998.

Rose returned to Norwich in 2010 and lived in the Chenango Valley Home. Recently she moved to Norwich Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.

In addition to her husbands, Rose was predeceased by her son Nicholas. She is survived by her sister Rafaela Peterson and Rose’s children, Michael (Beth) Reed, Randall (Peggy) Reed and Angela (TJ Moorehead) Reed and by her daughter-in-law Gena Reed. Also surviving are Rose’s grandchildren, Daniel Reed, Benjamin Reed, Dana Reed, Sarah Reed Basangan, Matthew Reed, Christopher Reed and Lawrence Moorehead. Rose is also survived by five great grandchildren: Michael Reed Basangan, Rachel Cecile Basangan, Daniel Michael Reed, Alicia Rose Reed and Rentaro Okubo-Reed.

Rose loved the family she joined through Albert Foster. Chris Foster (widow of Bert) and Shirley Foster (widow of Robert) survive Rose as do their children Jeff Foster, Mary Foster Rotundo, James Foster, Dr. Jill Foster and Jay Foster.

In addition to those named above, Rose is survived by several nieces, nephews and cousins both in the U.S. and in Italy.

There will be no calling hours. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday October 11, 2014 in St. Bartholomew’s Church in Norwich, NY with interment following at St. Paul’s Cemetery in Norwich, NY. Afterwards there will be a reception for family and friends at the St. Bartholomew’s Parish Center, Norwich, NY.

In lieu of flowers you may send memorial contributions to Literacy Volunteers, 44 W. Main St., Norwich, NY 13815 or to St. Paul’s Cemetery Association, 30 Pleasant St., Norwich, NY 13815 or to Hospice & Palliative Care of Chenango, 21 Hayes St., Norwich, NY 13815.