Lena v. (Francesco) Rossati

Lena V. Rossati, 89, of Rock Island, died Monday, Feb. 12, 2018 at Silver Cross Nursing Center, with her loving family by her side.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 am on Friday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Rock Island.  Burial is at Calvary Cemetery, Rock Island.  Visitation is 4 to 7 pm Thursday at the Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, 3030 7th Ave., Rock Island, where a combined Parish and Altar and Rosary Society rosary will be recited at 3:30 pm.  Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or to the American Cancer Society.

Lena Victoria Francesco was born Oct. 12, 1928 in Houston, Texas, a daughter of Dominick and Theresa Regis Francesco.  She married George P. Rossati on June 28, 1947 in St. Louis.  He died on May 4, 1988.

Lena relished her role as wife, mother and grandmother, but also worked outside the home.  In early years, she worked for McKesson-Robbins, enjoyed 18 years at the 20th Street Market and last worked for the Dispatch-Argus in the Circulation Department.

She was an over 70 year member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Rock Island, where she was involved in every event that required the use of the kitchen.  She helped prepare hundreds of funeral dinners, first Friday breakfasts, salad luncheons, chili suppers and more.  Lena was also a member of the church’s Altar and Rosary Society and had been a member of the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Circle 532 Daughters of Isabella.  Lena’s greatest love was for her family and there will be many who will miss her familiar “Hi honey” greeting and warm embrace.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughters and sons-in-law, Susan and Jerry Gomez, Coal Valley, and Linda and Jeff Heber, Rock Island; granddaughters, Joanna Wakeland, Chicago and Kathryn Heber (fiancé, Andrew Hutchins), Rock Island; and many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her husband; brother and four sisters.

Online condolences may be left at wheelanpressly.com.

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