Plan for the Future
Rose Maria G. Petescia, a long-time resident of Union, passed away at Manor Care in Mountainside on April 23, 2021. She was 94.
Born in Newark, NJ to the late Donata and Nicholas Genovese, she attended East Side High School and was a graduate of Montclair State University and the Newark State Teacher’s College. She then went on to teach in Newark for 47 years.
Rose Maria was a passionate advocate of early childhood education and literacy who loved and was loved by every child she came across. Rose Maria deeply loved her family, friends, her colleagues and students. She enjoyed baking, shopping for a great bargain and yearly vacations in Ortley Beach. She also liked reading, singing and playing the piano.
She was a member of St. Michael the Archangel Church in Union and the Carpe Diem Society, the Montclair State Alumni Association.
She was the beloved wife of Anthony J. Petescia. The loving mother of Donna (Petescia) Coyne and her husband Don Keith of Portland, OR and Diane Petescia of Union. The cherished aunt of Lynn Marie and John Planer, Richard G. Giorgi, John N. Giorgi, Laurie Ann Rizzo, Thomas and Lori Genovese, Kathleen Genovese, Nicholas Genovese, Robert Genovese and William Genovese. She is also survived by many beloved great-nieces and nephews and 3 cherished great great-nieces. Rose Maria was pre-deceased her brothers, Anthony W. and Nicholas J. Genovese and her sister, Josephine Giorgi.
