Roseleen M. "Rosie" (Ward) Catalano

Roseleen "Rosie" (Ward) Catalano passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, February 13, 2019 surrounded by her loving family. Roseleen was born on January 31, 1940 to Mary and Joseph Ward in Roxbury, later moving with her family to Dorchester. She was the eldest of six children. When Roseleen was 10, her father passed away and she assumed a more maternal role to help her mother with her younger siblings, the youngest of which being 6 months old at the time. She played this motherly role for many other children over the course of the rest of her life. She attended St. Joseph's Academy before continuing her studies at Boston State Teachers College. Upon graduation she started her teaching career in South Boston, retiring approximately 30 years later from the North School in Stoughton. She was a widely admired and respected teacher during her career, primarily teaching second grade. She adored being a teacher; she loved her students, her fellow teachers and her school.

During her junior year of college, she met the love of her life, the late Harold W. Catalano. They married and moved briefly to Canton before settling in Stoughton where they raised their family. Roseleen was a compassionate, caring, and nurturing mother. She leaves behind Kimberly M. Catalano and her husband Paul Childs of W. Barnstable, Matthew W. Catalano and his wife Ann of Stoughton, and Janine M. Alfond and her husband Jamie Parent of Norfolk.

Rosie was also a magical "nana" to her fabulous grandchildren Molly Rose (21), Bridget (18), Benjamin (17), Megan (15), Nora (12), and Harry Martin (9). Her grandchildren were so special to her and she had a unique and special relationship with each of them.

She also leaves behind her loving sister Marianne Connaughton of Needham, and her sisters of choice Nancy Connor of Dorchester and Eileen Ward of Osterville. She was predeceased by four siblings, the late Francis Ward, John Ward, Joseph Ward, and Susan Callahan. She leaves many wonderful friends from many phases of her journey, and her family is so grateful for the part they played in her life. She also has some special friends that unfortunately have gone before her and are there to welcome her. Roseleen had great faith and would always counsel that "all is well" or that a certain situation was a "God wink". Nothing was truly happenstance for Roseleen; it was the Divine way.

In 1993 after her husband Harold died suddenly, she retired from teaching and moved to the Cape, a dream of theirs. She ended up in Harwichport, on a marsh across from the harbor. She loved her home and took pride in it, especially when she entertained. She loved walks on the beach, looking for sea glass, her watercolor classes, and working at Argonauta jewelry for her daughter. She enjoyed her book club and loved spending time with her friends. Meeting new people was both a joy and a gift for her. She was always positive and upbeat.

She was always strong and independent. She lived life her way. She's no longer suffering and her family is grateful, yet will forever miss her dearly. She was a goddess and a mermaid and now she is an angel.

"Love, like the ocean, continues beyond the horizon...and life, like the sun, shines where we cannot see."

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of the Cape Church, 468 Stony Brook Rd., Brewster on Saturday, April 6 at 10 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations in Roseleen's memory may be made to St. Joseph's Indian School at 1301 North Main Street, Chamberlain, SD 57325.