At the Graveside Service His Mother said she had always lived for tomorrow, that tomorrow was the unknown and if daydreams were to be then it was better to wonder what might happen the next day, than try to fix the past which isn't possible. Probably, from the time she was a small girl she lived for the anticipation of tomorrow. In her childhood, anticipating may have been a blessing since she was the fourth born to Italian immigrants in 192l in Barnes, Il. Her Mother's family, the Manilas arrived in America, from Rome, Italy, when her mother, Josephine, was three years old. Her father, Pasquale Fortino, came to America at the age 16 to earn money to bring the rest of his family from Naples. Pasquale later became Charles and he and Josephine had a total of eight children, four boys and four girls. All of her brothers have previously died and her three sisters, Mary, Theresa and Helen are alive. In the early 1940's, just before America became involved in World War II, Rose was working at the Post Office Cafe in Bloomington, Illinois. A new customer became mesmerized by the little gum chewing, nail biting, funny Rose. In very short time, Johnny F. Bell became Rose M. Fortino's Prince Charming. They became engaged, although Johnny would not marry his little Princess because he feared he may not return from the warfront. In 1944, Johnny returned to America to finish his time in the Navy. Rose and John married on August 26, 1944 in Bloomington, Illinois. Following his service in the Navy they settled in Bloomington, Il, which was followed by the birth of their daughter Sherry Sue in October 1945. Then in June of 1947, their son Francis, Buzz, Frank, Manny and Sonny was born. Following his birth, they moved to Iowa to run the family farm for his aging parents. John and Rose left the farm in 1974 when John retired. They moved into town on Maple Street and remained there until 1993 when John died. They had been married for 49 years. In January of 1994 Rose and Buzz moved to Arizona. Living alone for the first time in her life, Rose quickly adapted to life in a retirement community. She made many new friends and became involved in all the activities available. By the summer of 2001, Rose had a hip replacement and while in the hospital acquired hospital resistant bacteria that would finally compromise her health. The bacteria became resident in her lungs and began to affect her ability to live alone. By 2001 Rose, Buzz and Martin moved to Geneva, Il to be close to Sherry because it was now difficult for her to live alone. During the years in Illinois, she battled frequent lung infections and had a stroke leaving her left side paralyzed. Regardless, her will to live, the ability to enjoy life completely and anticipating her tomorrows were paramount in keeping her active in painting, stamping fabrics, making stamped and painted boxes, bags and wrapping paper. Rose was always ready to go shopping, particularly with Buzz because she knew he would stop at Dairy Queen on the way home. Rose never asked for much in her life, except for “Love and Acceptance”, And when asked why she did so much for her family, she replied, “Because I love them!” Written by Frank E. Bell |
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