Submitted By: Dan Rich

Ethel Rose Focosi

March 11, 1911 - Nov. 12, 2002

South Bend Tribune 11/14/2002

Ethel Rose Focosi, 91, of Saint Joseph Towers, died November 12, 2002, surrounded by family. She was born on March 4, 1911, to Julia and Frank Tirotta. She had seven brothers, Perry, Frank, Chris, Dominic, Joe, Ernest and John. One sister, Mary Rodino, who all had preceded her in death.

Loving mother of Peter (June) who died June 30, 1973, Juliann Isenberger (Robert) of Downers Grove, IL, and Joseph, Sr. (Polly) of South Bend. She was blessed with 7 grandchildren, Kelly (Jay) Walters, Kimberly (Matt) LaLonde, Kristi McHugh, Joseph Focosi, Jr. (Janice), Michael Focosi (Amy, fiancée), Nicholas Focosi and Gina Webster (Michael). She was also blessed with 11 great-grandchildren, Madeline, Matthew, Jack, Luke, Emily, Victoria, Aaron, Michaella, Alaina, Nicholas and Sam. An aunt to many nieces and nephews of the Tirotta and Rodino families.

She will not only be missed by her family, she will be missed by all who knew her as a special lady who touched their hearts. Ethel was a loving and caring person as a caregiver to her husband, father-in-law and mother, and with the passing of her husband she became a single Mother before the term became popular. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and the Altar Society.

Worked at Ziker Cleaners for a number of years and was a Foster Grandparent for 13 years; for ten of those years she helped out at the Northern Indiana State Developmental Center teaching the disabled skills. For three years she worked with the children at El Campito Day Care. Her favorite pastime was Italian cooking for her family and her homemade bread recipe, which was featured in the South Bend Tribune, and her love to crochet.

Visitation will be at Bubb Funeral Chapel, North Main Street, Mishawaka, Ind. From 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today, November 14, 2002. Mass of Christian Burial will be said at 10 a.m. Friday, November 15, 2002, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Hill Street, South Bend, Ind. Burial will be at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery on East Jefferson St., Mishawaka, Ind. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Hospice of St. Joseph County, 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637. The Focosi Family thanks our special angels, Janice, Margaret, Joy, Ellie, Michalene, Rick, Diana and Brother Steve, and all others of Hospice who touched our mother's heart with love and compassion.

Editor She married Guido Focosi 10-12-1940 in St. Joseph County IN. He died 4-29-1949 in South Bend IN.