Rose Bernabucci

ROSE BERNABUCCI

Rose Bernabucci of North Haven, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 11th, 2026, daughter of Peter and Genoveffa Bernabucci. Born 1928 in New Haven. Sister of Frances Ricci, North Haven, CT. Predeceased by sisters Mary Gagliardi and Elsa Antinarella, and brother Dario Bernabucci. She grew up in the Morris Cove and City Point neighborhoods of New Haven and attended Commercial High School.

Rose was both a fine artist and commercial artist, having majored in Art at New Haven State Teachers College. She owned the Alden Art Associates advertising agency for many years. She was the first woman to be President of the New Haven County Ad Club. In her retirement, she was an active member of Hamden Art League, Guilford Art League, and New Haven Paint and Clay Club. Her art was exhibited in several shows where she won awards for her work. In addition, her painting " Icarus Landin " was shown at the New Britain Museum of American Art.

During WWII, Rose was a sergeant in the Civil Air Patrol, an adjunct to the US Air Force. She learned to fly planes and ran drills.

She remained very active in her retirement. An avid golfer, she played with several local golf leagues, including one of the earliest women's golf leagues at Meadowbrook, in Hamden. She also enjoyed volleyball, Tai Chi, and bridge. (She was especially fond of her bridge buddies Flo, Sue, Eileen and Diane, and her many volleyball friends). Rose spent summers at her cottage on Seaside Avenue in Guilford, where she enjoyed painting landscapes and spending time with friends and family. She also loved to travel in the US and abroad, and to visit her relatives in Fano, Italy. She was an annual participant in the "Walk for Autism" in honor of her grandnephew Daniel, and a supporter of Prader-Willi Research in honor of her grandniece Iris.

Rose was a lifelong learner, taking up new foreign languages in her 70's, and devouring books about history, politics, religion, and culture.She adapted to new technologies and loved Apple products, buying her first Macintosh computer way in 1984. She challenged herself to excel throughout her life.

Rose's family will miss her generosity, her creativity, her beauty, and her strongspirit. She had great talent and independence. Rose embraced her family and was always interested in their lives. She was a woman ahead of her time.

She leaves nephew Thomas (Donna) Gagliardi of San Tan Valley, AZ, and nieces, Doreen (John) Brown and Sharon (Paul) Healey of Wallingford, CT, Denise (Matthew) Bernabucci, of Bristol, CT, Mary Jean (Jim) Otis of Colchester, CT, and Michele (James) Bell, and Sabrina Ricci, of Niskayuna, NY. Predeceased by Richard (Paula) Korin.

Rose leaves grandnieces, Stephanie Bruno, Megan Gagliardi, Ashley Rodriguez, Mikayla Otis, and Iris Bell. She leaves grandnephews Keith Korin, Ronald Zarro, Daniel Healey, and Balthazar Ricci. Predeceased by Michael Gagliardi.

Visitation will be held at The Havens Family North Haven Funeral Home, 36Washington Avenue, on Tuesday, February 17th, 9:00 to 10:30 am. A Mass of

Christian burial will be celebrated in St. Elizabeth of the Trinity Parish at St. Barnabas Church, 44 Washington Avenue, North Haven at 11:00 am. Interrment

will follow at Centerville Cemetery, Hamden. In lieu of flowers, Rose requests donations to Prader-Willi Alliance of New York,www.prader-willi.org. or Autism Services and Resources Connecticut www.cliffordbeersccc.org