Maria Rosa BOVA

18 JAN 1932 - 24 OCT 2021

• BIRTH: 18 JAN 1932, Ardore Superiore, Calabria, Italy
• DEATH: 24 OCT 2021, St Joseph Regional Med. Center, Mishawaka, IN

• MARRIAGE: 5 APR 1964, Reggio Calabria, Italy

1.  Anna Marie CATALDO
2.  John CATALDO
3.  Joseph CATALDO

INDEX

[N30007] Maria Rosa Cataldo
nee Bova
January 18th 1932 - October 24th 2021

Granger - Maria Rosa Cataldo age 89 passed away with her family by her side at 3:44pm on Sunday October 24th 2021 at St Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka. Maria Rosa was born on January 18th 1932 in Ardore Superiore, Reggio Calabria, Italy to Giovanni and Maria Rosa (Arena) Bova and married Bruno Cataldo of Gerace, Reggio Calabria Italy on April 5th 1964. They came to America shortly thereafter and began 54 years of married life characterized by an exemplary and exceptional work ethic and an unwavering and constant devotion to family.Rosa, like so many Italians who came to America, left her humble town and her family to fulfill lifelong dreams. She left her Mother, her Father and her younger sister, Teresa in Italy and came to America with Bruno to begin their life's work. In Italy Rosa had loved instructing her Adore students in the art of sewing. In America she continued her labor of love by setting up a studio at their River Park home. Her hands designed and stitched incredibly beautiful pieces of clothing. Her work in that little seamstress studio helped the family financially but more importantly it helped to begin the formation of lifelong friendships. Rosa's hands were never idle. Every spring her green thumb converted the family homestead inside and out from brown to green and every color imaginable. Few among us have met those who are declared Saints by the Church. So the Lord blesses our lives with the presence of extraordinary saintly individuals. One such saint was Maria Rosa Cataldo. She was full of God's Grace and Love. And she shared that Grace and Love with everyone she met. She brought Heaven down to earth. Divine Truth motivated and invigorated her. She knew that her purpose was exactly what Jesus commanded in the 25th Chapter of Matthew's Gospel - to love and serve Our Lord by loving and serving others. Rosa also knew that our vocation is to be as caring as Christ and that was how she lived her life. Her life was a glorious Gregorian Chant of Christ's goodness, truth, and love. Christ was fully human love and Rosa, like Christ, was fully human love. Rosa was peaceful and content abiding in the Lord's Presence wherever she was. And she brought joy to everyone she met, especially children. They were her greatest love. Rosa's smile was joyful and beautiful and it made people happy. She reminded people of their own loving Mom. And that is a wonderful gift. She faced the many struggles and challenges in her life with perseverance, fortitude, and those cardinal virtues and gifts bestowed on her by the Holy Spirit.Her weapons against the Evil in the world were spiritual reading and prayer and her favorite prayers were the Mass and the Rosary. She lived the Truth in all of the Lord's parables. She stored up her treasure in Heaven, not on earth. The greatest way that we can honor Rosa is to live our lives as she lived hers - to love, honor, and serve The Lord in this life, so that like her we can be happy with Him in the next. Rosa is survived by her daughter Anna Marie (Randy) Chaffee, son Joseph and son John (Cara). Rosa is also survived by her grandchildren: Michael, Bruno and Max Chaffee: Bruno, John and Julie Cataldo, Bruno, Rocco and Mario Cataldo. Thank you to all the doctors especially Dr. Priebe and Dr. George Friend (ret) caregiver Diane Molnar. Also special thanks to Anna Marie and the Chaffee men for going above and beyond taking care of our mom 24/7 365. Your devotion and care kept Maria Rosa safe and sound with the best quality of life possible. Special thanks to Jeffery Gainey who lovingly authored Maria Rosa Cataldo's great life. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 29, 2021 at St. Hedwig Catholic Church, 309 S. Taylor Street, South Bend, IN. Final prayers and burial will follow at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger. Friends may visit with the family from 3:00-7:00 p.m. on Thursday at the Palmer Funeral Home-Guisinger Chapel, 3718 S. Michigan Street, South Bend where a rosary will be recited at 3:00 p.m. Friends may also visit with the family on Friday morning at church from 10:00-11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Maria Rosa Cataldo may be donated to Palmer Funeral Home, 3718 S. Michigan Street, South Bend, IN 46614 for a special trust to be established by the family. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.
Posted online on October 27, 2021