BATH — Rose Antonecchia died peacefully of natural causes Saturday, February 25, 2012, at the age of 102. In a journey that began with parents from the hill top villages surrounding Campobasso, Italy and ended at Hill House in Bath, Maine, Maria Giovanna Rosina Simone Antonecchia was born to Donata ( Yannantuono) and Orazio Simone on December 23, 1909 in Tuckahoe, NY. Rose joined brothers Andrew, Armand, and Horace (Buck), with Vincent (Jim) soon to follow. Rose’s childhood was spent in both Tuckahoe and Lake Mahopac, NY where the Simone family owned Lake Mahopac Market and Lake Mahopac Liquors. Rose was a 1927 graduate of Manhattan Trade School.

On June 23, 1935, Rose married Eli ( Alighiero Elia) Antonecchia at St. John the Evangelist R. C. Church in Lake Mahopac, NY and commenced on what would be a 46 year partnership of love, family and business. Their life was centered in Katonah, NY, where Rose made her home from 1949 until 2000 when she moved to Portland and, later, Brunswick, ME. Together, Rose and Eli would establish in 1938 and build the successful businesses of Honebon’s Cleaners and Tailors, Katonah Cleaners and Honebon’s Men’s Shop, and afford their sons the first rate education they never had. Rose reluctantly retired from her life as a businesswoman at the age of 90. Like her mother before her, Grandma Rose took tremendous satisfaction in feeding her grandchildren and their friends from one of the two kitchens in her Katonah home. When not working, Rose and her husband Eli enjoyed golf and the camaraderie of friends at Tamarack Country Club in Greenwich, CT and Mt. Kisco Country Club in Mt. Kisco, NY. Diminutive in stature at 4’ 11”, Rose was strong and athletic, an accomplished golfer who enjoyed watching both pro tennis and golf as well as the politics of the day. While recuperating from a broken hip suffered after her 101st birthday celebration, Rose astounded her greatgrandchildren with her quick reflexes and skill at chair soccer and volleyball.

Rose was cared for and is survived by her son, Joseph Sr., of Brunswick, ME granddaughters and their families; Sara (Antonecchia) and Sean Dunphy of Williston, VT and their children, Evangeline, Molly and Eli; Rose (Antonecchia) and Blair Barnes of Pottstown, PA and their children, Anna and Paul; Liv (Antonecchia) and Eric Dietrich of Mt. Pleasant, SC and their children, Amelia and Charlotte; various nieces and nephews; dear friends, the extended Dunphy family of greater Bath; and son, Tom, of Katonah, NY (Laura and husband, Shawn DeVeau, daughter, Sophia, and Lisa).

Rose was predeceased by her beloved husband, Eli, in 1981, her parents, her four brothers and their wives, Andrew and Adelaide (Biggio), Armand and Natcha ( Carlino), Buck and Julia ( Miller), Jim and Helen (DiNinno), infant grandson, Thomas, Jr., and her cherished and devoted grandson, Joseph, Jr., in 1994.

Arrangements are being handled by Brackett Funeral Home, Brunswick, ME. There will be no calling hours and a Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, March 1st, at St. Mary of the Assumption R. C. Church, Katonah, NY. The family wishes to thank the staff of Hill House, Bath, ME, especially Ben, for the excellent care Rose received this year.

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