Rose G. Decio

Rose (Palaia) Decio, 96, of Collegeville, PA, passed away peacefully on January 26 at Meadowood Senior Living in Lansdale, PA.

Born on November 23, 1926 in a small industrial village in Valley Forge Park called Port Kennedy, Rose was the middle of Dominic Palaia and Marion (Ranieri) Palaia's three children. Rose’s father worked as a foreman at the nearby Ehret Magnesia Company, and Rose remembered playing on piles of asbestos there as a child. Though asbestosis would later plague her whole family with lung disease, Rose spoke with great joy of her childhood with her brothers, Vincent and Joseph. She regaled younger generations with stories of butchering pigs, stomping on grapes to make wine and living without indoor plumbing. When she was 15, Rose met her future husband, Joseph Decio, at a Holy Savior dance and they married when Joe came home from active duty in Germany after World War II.

While Joe was at war, Rose finished high school. Her father refused to let her attend college because she was a girl, so Rose threw herself into work, starting as a typist and eventually becoming Director of the Tax Claim Bureau of Montgomery County. She dedicated much of her time to organizations that were important to her, including the Tax Claim Bureau Association of Pennsylvania, which she founded. She was an active member of the Catholic War Veterans Auxiliary for decades, where she took pride in honoring the service of her peers through fundraising. Rose’s luck was a bit of an issue for some as she frequently won $30 dollar night, a feat of some pride to her.

Rose became a widow in 1972, and while she never got over missing the love of her life, she filled her world with cherished loved ones. She traveled as much as she could with friends and family, driving North to see the leaves change each fall, exploring Europe, and cruising on the Queen Mary 2.

When she was home, Rose loved to quilt, to make Christmas stockings and to bake--her Easter bread, rice pie, ricotta cookies and cream puffs will never be equaled. But her greatest joy came from the people she loved. Rose would do anything for her brothers, her nieces, nephews and those lucky enough to be her friend. She reserved the most special place for her daughter, JoAnn, her five grandchildren and their spouses, and her nine great-grandchildren. When GG walked through the front door, generations of children shrieked with joy knowing she made magic happen. She always brought small toys, sweet treats and her undivided attention to shower them with love.

Preceded in death by her husband of 26 years, Joseph Decio, her son in law, Richard D. Capriotti, M.D., her parents and her brothers, Rose leaves behind her daughter, JoAnn (Decio) Capriotti, her grandchildren, Diana Capriotti and Kevin Labick; Joseph Capriotti, M.D.; John Capriotti and Liz Golia Geiger; Maria Capriotti; and Nicholas Capriotti and Kara (Dixon) Capriotti, M.D; nine great-grandchildren including Peter, Clara and Henry Labick, Alba, Gonzalo and Lucía Capriotti Acuña and Vail, Vita and Vera Capriotti, well as many beloved nieces and nephews.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Tuesday, January 31 at St. Helena’s of Blue Bell between 10 and 11. Funeral mass will be said at 11, followed by interment at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, East Norriton.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

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