Rosa Filippone

Rosa Filippone

May 27, 1929 – December 17, 2025

Rosa (née Varacalli) Filippone, of Clifton Heights, PA, passed peacefully into eternal life on December 17, 2025, while surrounded by her beloved family.  She lived 96 wonderful years.  

The youngest child of Rocco and Josephine (La Rosa) Varacalli, Rosa was born in Locri, Calabria, Italy.  She was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters Maria, Teresa, Carmela (Callipari), Elvira, and Concetta (Berkey); her brothers Saverio (“Sam”), Leonard, Domenic, and Paul; and her loving husband of 33 years, Carmen.  

Rosa courageously left her home and emigrated to the United States, first in 1954 aboard the SS Conte Biancamano with her sisters, and a second time two years later after having returned to Italy to marry Carmen, her childhood sweetheart.  Despite the poverty of her childhood, her life was filled with love, hope, joy, and especially unwavering faith.  She was a long-time parishioner and volunteer at Sacred Heart Parish in Clifton Heights.  

Rosa and Carmen raised their loving and devoted daughter Maria (Thad Kirk IV) to be true to faith, family, and the community where they made their home—while also never forgetting their precious Italian roots and language that Rosa proudly passed on to three generations.  Despite Carmen’s untimely passing in 1989, Rosa’s faith and family (especially her sisters) sustained her, and she played an essential role in the upbringing of her three loving grandchildren, Sarah (George Thompson), Thad Kirk V (Katie, née Ailtmar), and Catherine (Marcus Van Gorden), who knew her affectionately as “Nanny.”  Later in life, Rosa was blessed with five great-grandchildren—Brayden, Lucy, Tessa, Liam, and Clara—who brought “Nanny” immense joy in her last decade, and she even got to feel the kick of a sixth great-grandchild on the way.  She was also survived by many beloved nieces and nephews (and great and great-great nieces and nephews), including some in Italy who, despite the distance, remained dear to her until her death.  

Apart from family, Rosa’s biggest passion in life was cooking.  She was famous for waking up early and starting to cook or bake—“just in case” a family member, neighbor, or friend might happen to stop in.  She worked for many years in the restaurant industry, including as Executive Chef at the Columbus Club, near her home in Clifton Heights.  After retiring, she continued to cook on weekends at the Sacred Heart rectory.  She passed down countless traditional recipes to Maria and her grandchildren.  Rosa was also a Christmas and party enthusiast, regularly hosting lively parties and Christmas Eve feasts in her basement, well into her later years.  Until she no longer could, she proudly decorated her one-story twin home for Christmas every year—even winning borough prizes for the best light display on multiple occasions.  She was also an avid gardener, and it was not uncommon for passersby to stop and take pictures of the flowers in front of her house.  

Rosa proudly (and perhaps somewhat stubbornly) lived independently until the last year of her life.  Anyone who met Rosa, even for a short time, knew her as one of the most loving, warm, generous, selfless, and humble people anyone could ever hope to meet.  Despite some illnesses that took some of her physical strength from her in her last three years, she never complained and never ceased to be the vibrant pillar of her family, a steady and guiding light, a rock of faith, and a source of boundless joy and love to everyone around her.  Her extraordinary legacy will live on through generations.  

Family and friends are invited to attend Rosa’s funeral on Monday, December 22, at Sacred Heart Church, 316 East Broadway Avenue, Clifton Heights, PA 19018. There will be a visitation in church from 10:00 am – 11:00 am. Rosa’s concelebrated funeral mass will begin at 11:00 am. Burial will take place in private at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, kindly consider donations in Rosa’s memory to the St. Dorothy School Scholarship Fund (Drexel Hill).