Rosemarie Sellitto Little

1938 - 2026

Rosemarie Sellitto Little
05/07/1938 - 02/26/2026
Rosemarie Sellitto Little, 87, entered the arms of her Savior Jesus Christ on February 26, 2026 in Houston, Texas. Born May 7, 1938 in East Orange, New Jersey. She grew up in both places, moving back to NJ as a teenager. There she married James R. Speake and had her 3 girls, Debora (Rusty) Speake, Rosemarie (Rody) Speake and Frances (Franny) Speake Yokopovich, who survive her.

She moved back to Texas in 1964 and began a career, first with Sears and later with Allstate. Rosemarie was a pioneer, championing a career as a woman in a man's world. Leaving Sears for a few years she opened her own bill collection company, Uniforce Agency and her logo was a girl in a mini skirt pushing a wheelbarrow overflowing with money. Talk about making a statement; that was Rosemarie, always pro-women. Following a divorce in 1973, she moved from bill collecting with Sears to become the second female Allstate agent in Texas. Always striving to attain success, she advanced through the ranks, winning contest after contest which took her all over the world. Every trip around the world she would take a different family member, ensuring they were able to celebrate with her. Upon opening her own office with two other agents, they made it on the cover of Allstate monthly for "Agents of the Future", emphasis on the diversity with her being a woman and the two other agents and friends being black. She opened doors for so many that came behind her and made a name for herself with Allstate, and at least at the Houston home office, is a legend.

She retired early in 1996 to take care of her ailing husband and the love of her life, Mr. Paul Little whom she married in 1982. After his death in 1999, Rosemarie did not slow down one bit. She continued to volunteer with the Houston Museum of Fine Arts for years, attended a professional women's breakfast every week, had dinners monthly with girlfriends and volunteered at her beloved church, St. Catherine of Sienna. She was tiny but mighty, a giant of a woman despite her petite stature.

Rosemarie was dedicated to her family like no other. She was the second of five children and is preceded in death by her parents Joseph Thomas Sellitto, 1978, and Rose Rita Mercadante Sellitto, 1992, and her big brother Thomas J. Sellitto, 2012. She is survived by her three girls as mentioned above, Rusty, Rody and Franny(Fran), six grandchildren, April Walker(Kyle), Jordan Yokopovich Marshall (Christopher), Matthew Yokopovich, Alex, Autumn and Anthony Speake, and three great grandchildren, Sophie and Mila Walker, and Lily Rose Marshall as well as two bonus greats, Leo and Aurora Marshall, sisters JoAnn Sellitto, Felicia Sellitto, and Anna Ellisor, sister in law Alice Sellitto of New Jersey along with so many nieces, nephews and extended family.

A memorial service will be held at Woodlawn Funeral Home Chapel at 1101 Antoine, Houston, Texas 77055, Friday March 13, 2026 at 11 am with lunch after. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to The Alzheimer's Association and Houston Pets Alive.