Our beloved mother, Rose Marie (Crocco) Star, age 92, passed away peacefully in her sleep July 16, 2022, convalescing in Salt Lake from a fall earlier in March.
She was born on March 15, 1930 in Kenilworth, Utah, the firstborn of her immigrant father Stanley Crocco and mother Clara (Spadafora) Crocco. Rose was raised in a traditional Italian family and was always proud of her Italian heritage.
At the age of 18, following the accidental death of her father killed in the coal mine, her family moved to Helper, Utah where she remained a lifelong resident. Though she wanted to continue with her education following graduation from Carbon High School, her obligations to her mother and two brothers, Louis and Stan, kept her home. She worked various jobs, including at her brother’s Bonnie movie theater, Veltri’s Rexall Drug Store, and eventually became a teller at Helper State Bank.
Her banking career was shortened when she fell in love with a man whom she adored, introduced to him by his sister and her friend Annie Biegler. That man was Matt Star. Matt and Rose Marie were married on October 31, 1953 at St. Anthony’s Church in Helper. They lived in an apartment for a few years of married life until they built their first and only home on First Avenue in Helper. She remained in the same home until her death.
Rose Marie was a devoted and loyal wife, her pride and joy being her four children: Tom (Susan), Matt, Paul, and Gena. The time she spent with her children and subsequently her grandchildren, Stephanie (AJ) and Natalie (Tyler), and most recently great grandson Shane, meant more to her than anything. Sadly, she will miss the birth of her second great-grandchild Max, who’s arrival she was eagerly awaiting next month. She was the most caring, loving, generous, gracious, sometimes stubborn, mother who brought such joy into all of our lives.
The accidental loss of her son Matt in 1976, followed by the death of her husband Matt nine months later in 1977, changed her life. The heartbreak was incomprehensible. Following their deaths, she needed to return to work at Zion’s Bank in Price where she remained until her retirement. Raising two young children still at home, along with a new job, was no easy task. We, her children, were always grateful for the love and support during this time from our grandmothers Clara Crocco and Katie Star, Aunt Y and Uncle John Bruno, and Aunt Rose Albo; all deceased.
Rose continued to be very active after her retirement until her late 80s. She volunteered for various parish activities and organizations at St. Anthony’s Parish and looked after her dear friend, Edith Litizzette. Additionally, she spent nearly 15 years volunteering at the Helper Western Mining & Railroad Museum.
We couldn’t submit an obituary for our mother without mentioning in her younger years. She taught 4H knitting to the neighborhood girls; a few of them still knit to this day. Throughout her life she had a passion and love for cooking, especially baking during the holidays and keeping all of the Italian and Croatian traditions ever present in our home. She never had a recipe in hand as she prepared some of the finest meals imaginable and was always willing to try a little creativity in the kitchen as well. No one has ever been able to duplicate her pasta sauce and gnocchi; she never gave out the full recipe! She also enjoyed a good game of cards, something we fondly call Nani Rummy. She also loved the Italian card game, Briscola. Watching Elvis Presley act or sing always brought a smile to her face.
Rose Marie loved Helper and the people of Helper. She couldn’t imagine wanting or needing to live anywhere else. We are so grateful to her wonderful neighbors and the folks who were there for her during her later years, her dear cousins whom she grew up with, Marie Nelson (Bruno), Natty Leo (Albo), and Dom and Ginny Albo. They always had a smile and word of encouragement. We cherish the support from her sisters-in-law, Helen Star, Barbara (Frank) Lang, Sophie (Joe) Humphreys and Barbara Crocco; brother-in-law, Martin Star; nephews, nieces, cousins, and deceased in-laws, Annie Biegler and Steve Star. We dearly miss our beloved Susan (McCarthy) Star, Tom’s wife and treasured daughter-in-law.
Rose Marie was a devout Roman Catholic, praying her rosary daily. Services will be at St Anthony’s Church in Helper, Saturday July 23, 2022, with her nephew, Fr. Bill Biegler, SJ presiding. A viewing will be at 10:00 a.m. followed by funeral mass at 11:00. Interment, Mt. View Cemetery, Helper, Utah. A luncheon will follow the interment. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to St Anthony’s Church in her memory.
Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home of Price where friends are always welcome daily and may share memories of Rose online at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net