Obituary of Rose Marie Baez

Rose Marie Baez, age 88, of Staten Island passed away Friday, April 26, 2024. Rose Marie Baez was born March 21, 1936 in Brooklyn, NY. She is the daughter of the late Louis and the late Nancy (Reina) Stenza. Beloved mother of Lisa Baez Alessandro (Jerry) and the late Gregory Baez. Dear sister of the late Thomas Stenza (Gloria).

Wake service will be on Wednesday May 1, 2024 from 2:00 to 5:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 PM at Marine Park Funeral Home. 3024 Quentin Road Brooklyn, NY 11234, 718-339-8900.

Funeral mass will take place at Green-Wood Historic Chapel on Thursday May 2, 2024 at 10:00 AM. 500 25th Street Brooklyn, NY 11232.

Committal service will be continued at Green-Wood Cemetery. 500 25th Street Brooklyn, NY 11232.

In lieu of flower please make a donation in memory of Rose Marie Baez to www.OperationSmile.com to help children with cleft lips or to American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals  www.ASPCA.com by clicking the links provided.

Eulogy Written By Lisa Baez-Alessandro

Id like to begin by expressing how grateful I am to each of you for being here.

My mother, Rose Marie Baez, was born to Nancy and Louis Stenza on March 21st, 1936. her father called her "My depression baby" Her father swore that she would never want for anything because my mother was born during the depression.

Raised in a brownstone in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, she lived in a traditional American Italian home where the family occupied the entire brownstone. Everyone knew each other's business and enjoyed the constant company of family, friends, and neighbors.

My mother was a loving and very obedient child. As a toddler, she inherited the nickname "Cookie" from her uncle Tony, which stuck with her into adulthood. She was the prize recipient of award competitions for speech, where she watched her father beam when she was awarded first prize.

My mother was fashionable, funny, intelligent, well-read, and always very happy as a young woman. She attended Central Needle Trades High School, where she again was awarded prizes and won contests for her fashion design sketches. The hallways of Central Needle Trade were adorned with her fashionable drawings. It was on the steps of central needle trade, that she met my father, Gerry. From age 15, my parents kept company. My father eventually enlisted into the service, and my mother having stars in her eyes for only him, waited patiently for him to return. She would regularly send care packages, write letters, and exchange pictures. They married in 1956. 

In 1957, my brother Gregory was born, the first precious child. I came along 1964, and I could not have experienced more love.

My mother was a loving and fiercely protective parent. Though protective, she did not shield my brother and me from preparation for the world. She was as sweet as any mother could be, waking us by singing at the foot of our beds in the morning and always looking beautiful and ready to conquer the day. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were always perfect, delicious, and plentiful. There was always enough to feed anyone who would walk through the door. More often than not, friends and family knew they could visit any time and sit down for a meal, coffee, cake, goodies, laughter, and good conversation. She had the Knack of making everyone feel like family. My parent's house was regularly filled with friends and laughter. The coffee pot was always perking on the stove, and that specific aroma when the perk was done remains in my internal senses. I remember the milkman delivering milk and eggs in the white metal box near the back door. I remember the fuller brush man and his cleaning products.  I recall the seltzer man because my parents never kept soda in the house. hearing my mother's voice call for dinner when I was out playing with my friends, and the cookies and shot of scotch that were left for Santa for his stop at our house. I recall how my mother handled the rough questions I would ask as a child. She dealt with every question thoughtfully and always said the right thing. She walked me to grade school every morning and met me for lunch every day. She was an avid walker and reader. Those were indeed the good old days.

As much love as there was, sorrow eventually darkened our lives. In 1985, my precious brother Gregory suddenly passed on. 

She spent a lifetime suffering over the loss of her only son. After her divorce from my father, she never remarried. Just prior to my parents’ divorce My mother gained full-time employment working for the Policeman's Benevolent Association. Monday through Friday. She woke every morning at 4:30AM out the door by 6:15AM, took public transportation to and from, and never complained about having to work.

As the years moved on, my parents developed a friendship. This friendship lasted until my father passed away in 2016. People who did not know my parents were surprised to learn that they were divorced. Their exuberance for being together, enjoying a meal together, and the fun-filled spirited conversation lasted many years.

My parents shared a love of animals, current events, political views, and strategies to resolve challenging situations.

My mother's consistent routines and rituals were enthusiasm for world news and politics,  passion for her children, reading her daily posts from front to back, perfume, makeup, coffee, and balancing her checkbook. Getting up in the morning and always ready to run was her mantra. Her creative mind, attitude, and way of using words in difficult situations were her attributes. Her character was kindness to humanity, integrity of thought and action, and overwhelming generosity. She was honest, and I'm confident to say that my mother, Rose had a clean heart.

She would look at the sky and see art in the clouds. Her eyes twinkled when she would capture a vision and would always bring my attention to this figure. As a child, the moon was named Mr. Moon, and she would encourage me to look at the moon and talk about what I was seeing.

My mother, Rose, and I had a true mother-daughter bond bestowed by God's grace.

At night, I would never say good night or goodbye. Instead, I would kiss my mother every night and say, see you later and she would say in return “see you anytime”. I knew she would eventually move on from this existence, and we would see each other again in heaven, If I have a choice when I see her, I will call out to her, Mom, and we will continue our journey as mother and daughter. I was profoundly blessed and proud to have been the daughter of Rose.

So, Mom, I will see you later, and know that I could not have asked for a more loving, generous, and precious mother than I found in you. I love you forever.