Rose Bobinchock, of Belmont, Massachusetts, formerly of Lamoine, Maine, devoted wife and mother, passed away on June 29, 2018, after a long illness. She was 66.
Born and raised in New York, Rose moved around frequently as a child, but always thought of Staten Island as her home. She often talked fondly of her days riding the ferry back and forth between the farmland Staten Island and Manhattan—where she loved the hustle and bustle of the city and watched with fascination as the Twin Towers were erected in the 60s. No matter where her life took her, New York always remained her home in her heart. As she would often say, she never lost her “New Yorkers charm.”
Rose was a consummate people person—which is evidenced by the number of lives she touched and her genuine interest in other people’s welfare and happiness. From her early career running a kitchen for a nursing home, where she insisted on making all the holiday pies by hand, to cooking extra food to give away to those who were less fortunate than her, to doing small acts of kindness for those around her simply because she wanted to—Rose always wanted to make people feel special and she always looked out for the underdog.
While Rose took many people under her wing, she dedicated her life to caring for her husband of 43 years Leonard, and her only child Adriana. From the moment she met Leonard on a beach in Milford, Pennsylvania in 1974, Rose knew she had met the love of her life. They married a year later and Adriana came along shortly after. Rose doted on her family, specializing in delicious home-cooked meals, and keeping a spotless home decorated with photos and crafts created by her own hand. Leonard’s career in the National Park Service required frequent moves, but despite packing up and leaving the comforts of familiarity every couple of years, Rose always put on a smile and made the move into an adventure. Rose never failed to make a lunch, have time for a talk, or offer support when it was needed.
She was the epitome of a mama bear—protecting her daughter as much as she could from the pains of growing up, yet encouraging her to live a full and happy life—even when it meant Adriana moving away from her and Len. Despite being miles apart after Adriana went to college and later began her own family in Boston, the two continued to share a close bond. Rose often rode the bus from Maine to Boston to visit Adriana, and joined her on trips around the country whenever time permitted. The two visited San Francisco, San Diego, Mexico, Pittsburgh, and of course—New York. Many wonderful memories were created on those trips—trips Rose reflected on often during her illness.
Rose’s biggest adventure came when Leonard was transferred to Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, Maine. Rose—an avid lover of the city—embraced the laid-back culture of Maine, and grew to love the Pine Tree State. She accepted a position at the famed Maine retailer Reny’s, where she oversaw the shoe department at their Ellsworth location and quickly became known as the “shoe queen.” In true Rose fashion, she befriended many of the customers who sought her advice on footwear.
Rose found many joys in life, including music, her beloved dogs and “grandcats,” gardening, shopping, cooking, and sharing stories.
Rose was a loving and caring individual, who stood up to injustices when she saw them and always protected the underdog. She lived her life believing that leading a good life and treating people with compassion and respect, would lead to Heaven when the time came.
Rose is survived by her husband Leonard of Lamoine, Maine, her daughter Adriana and her husband Scott O’Brien of Belmont, Mass., her brothers-in-law Edward and his wife Marilyn of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Joseph and Elizabeth Bobinchock of Archbald, Pennsylvania, as well as countless people with whom she encountered in her quest to bring happiness to the world.
The family would like to thank the staff at Maine Coast Memorial Hospital in Ellsworth, Maine, Courtland Rehabilitation Center in Ellsworth, Maine, Brigham and Women’s s Hospital in Boston, and CareOne HealthCenter in Lexington for their compassionate care and valiant efforts in caring for Rose.
Visiting hours are scheduled for Friday, July 7 from 4 pm-6 pm at Brasco & Sons Funeral Home, 325 Trapelo Road, Belmont. A funeral mass will be held on Saturday July 8 at 9 am at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 130 Common Street, Belmont. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, Rose’s family requests that donation be made in her memory to the ASPCA.
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