Rose Marie (Villella) Stello

Rose Marie (Villella) Stello, 90, of Punxsutawney, passed away Saturday, August 20, 2022, at Penn Highlands Jefferson Manor, in Brookville.

Rose was born on June 12, 1932, in Bloomfield, PA, the daughter of the late Nick and Lucy (Cianelli) Villella, and was raised in Walston.

Rose attended Punxsutawney Area High School, where she met “the love of her life”, James “Jimmy” Stello.  They were married on September 10, 1949, and enjoyed 70 wonderful and adventurous years together, until Jimmy’s death on July 28, 2019.

Rose is survived by three children, Douglas James Stello, Jamie C. Stello (James Organ), and Nickki L. Stello (Lauri Leasure Stello), and one grandson, Antonio James Stello.  She is also survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Anthony “Greasy” Villella and Esther Villella, and her nieces and nephew, Toni Lingenfelter, Bobbi Jo Keller, and Kelly Villella, as well as her niece, Donna Thieroff, a brother-in-law, Anthony Stello, two sisters-in-law, Jennie Stello and Lois Stello, and many other nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Rose was a member of Saints Cosmas and Damian Roman Catholic Church, and the Catholic Daughters of America.

Rose will always be remembered as “the candy apple lady”, as every Halloween for over 50 years, she made hundreds of candy apples to give to trick-or-treaters, and family and friends, who “followed the footsteps” to Rosie’s door, to get their special treat.

Rose was also instrumental in the formation of Stello Foods, Inc. our family-owned food processing business.  Rose formulated or tweaked many of the recipes used to make the products that Stello Foods is known for, which are all named after Rosie, including Rosie’s Ringers and Rosie’s Red Pepper Spread.

Rose’s greatest joy in life was giving to others and making everyone feel special.  Her expression of love was to give one of her delicious homemade dishes – lasagna, fried chicken, stromboli, vegetable soup, and hot sausage sandwiches, just to name a few.

Rose was also known to “shop till she dropped”, searching for the perfect gift for those she loved, or finding treasures to put in the huge basket on an antique sled that she donated to Make-A-Wish for years.  She also loved to buy anything that was unique, and for sure, anything turquoise.

In accordance with Rose’s wishes, there will be no visitation.  A funeral mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, August 23, 2022, at 11:00 am, at Saints Cosmas and Damian Roman Catholic Church, with Monsignor Joseph Riccardo officiating. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Punxsutawney.

The McCabe Funeral Home Inc., of Punxsutawney have been entrusted with the arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Rose’s memory can be made to the C.D. of A, or Saint Vincent DePaul Society, c/o SSCD Church, Punxsutawney, PA, or to the Family House, University Place, 116 Thackery Ave, Pittsburgh, PA. 15260.

To share a memory, visit www.mccabewaldronfh.com