Obituary of Rose Marie Leghorn

Rose Marie (Massa) Leghorn, 93, of New Rochelle, NY passed away on November 28, 2018 after a long illness. Born Dec. 26, 1924 in Brooklyn, NY she was the daughter of the late Louis and Olympia (Nasta) Massa. Rose graduated from Tilden High School, then received her BS from the Brooklyn College of Pharmacy. She also held a master's degree in Education from New York University. Rose worked as a research chemist for Pfizer Inc., where she met the love of her life, Joseph J. Leghorn. They were married in 1948 and raised their two sons, Joseph and Thomas, in Brooklyn. Joe Sr. continued at Pfizer while Rose switched careers, teaching science at St. Brendan's High School. After retirement Rose and Joe moved to Heritage Hills in Somers. Rose loved to cook and read, and was an avid baseball and football fan. She also loved to attend the Metropolitan Opera, and shared this passion with her grandchildren. After she was widowed in 1994 Rose moved to New Rochelle, where she sat on her condominium board and enjoyed playing cards. Rose was predeceased by her loving husband, Joe; and her brother, Dr. Louis Massa. She is survived by her sons Joseph (Dorothy DeSimone) of Needham, MA and Thomas (Theresa Kump) of New Rochelle, NY; her nieces Isabella Tcheyan of New York City, Marcella Massa of Traverse City, MI and Fiorella Massa Corso of Trieste, Italy; and her grandchildren Gemma Leghorn of Rangeley, ME, Nicholas Leghorn of Austin, TX, Edith Leghorn of Sitka, AK, and Juliana Leghorn of New Rochelle. The family appreciates donations in her memory, which may be made to the New Rochelle Public Library or the charity of your choice. Visiting will be Friday November 30th 2:00 until 5:00 PM and 7:00 until 9:00 PM at John J. Fox Funeral Home, Inc. 2080 Boston Post Road Larchmont, New York 10538. Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday December 1st 10:00 AM at St. Augustine Church in Larchmont, NY. Interment will follow at St. John's Cemetery in Middle Village Queens, NY.