A funeral mass was offered June 28 at St. Michael’s Church for Rose Marie Buono. She passed away at home on June 24. Rose was born and raised in Jersey City. After her retirement in 1981, she moved permanently to her summer home in Long Branch. She was a graduate of Lincoln High School, received her B.S. and M.A. from NYU and later enrolled at Columbia University for the PhD Equivalency Program.
Rose was the Supervisor of Home Economics in the Jersey City School District. She developed many programs during her tenure, some of which were featured in Life Magazine, NBC Home Show and Voice of America.
Rose was an educator and was named Home Economics Educator of the Year in 1981. She retired after 40 years of service. Rose was a member of the Jersey City Education Association, the NJEA, NEA, Hudson County and Monmouth County Retired Teachers’ Association, Jersey City Women’s Association of Supervisors and Administrators and Hudson County Supervisors’ Association.
A communicant of St. Michael’s Church in Long Branch, Rose was a founding member and officer of the Older and Weiser Club and a member of the Rosary Altar Society. She was a member of the Active Seniors of Long Branch, Senior Center, Friends of the Long Branch Public Library, the Women’s Club of Long Branch and the Legends, a group of performing seniors.
Rose married Frank A. Buono in 1945. They shared 56 years together before Frank passed away in 2001. Rose was also predeceased by her sister, Marie Lepis, and her nephew, James G. Lepis. She is survived by her sisters, Geraldine and Angela Viverito, her nieces and nephews, Gerald and Kathleen Lepis, Barbara and Michael Burke, Joseph and Sarah Lepis, Mary Jean Lepis, James’s widow, Barbara Lepis, and many grand and great-grand nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her cousins Margaret Ciotti and Cheryl and Frank Spillane. Most recently, Rose and her family were surrounded by some very special people who provided exceptional compassionate care. A special thanks to Patricia, her caretaker, Eileen, her Hospice Nurse and the St. Barnabas Hospice Staff. Services arranged by the Damiano Funeral Home, Long Branch.