CALLAHAN – Rosalia “Roz” (nee Bisogno) died peacefully at home on June 16^th, 2023.  Survived by her loving husband, Robert; her devoted daughter, Maureen (Gary) Buchheister and her deeply cherished grandchildren, Kyle, Lindsey and Shannon Buchheister and Julianna Lisa.  Predeceased by her beloved daughter, Kathleen (Mike) Lisa, her beloved parents, Angelina and Joseph Bisogno, and her dearest sister and brother-in-law, Rose and Martin Bertolini.  Dear aunt to many, sharing an exceptional and deep relationship with her niece, Jo Ann Del Brocco. 

Roz grew up in the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx in a warm and loving home with her parents and older sister, Rose.  In later years, their home grew to be shared with Rose’s husband, Martin, and their children, Charles, Jo Ann and James who were like Roz’s “other” children.  During this time, Roz met her future husband, Bob, working together at what is now known as CitiBank. They were married in 1965.  Their initial years of marriage took them to live in Puerto Rico for business where they welcomed their first daughter, Kathy.  Returning to live in Riverdale, they were blessed with their second daughter, Maureen.  Roz and Bob felt that they wanted to raise their girls away from the city and chose the lovely town of Dumont to put down roots.  They acquired another family member, a rambunctious puppy the girls named Cherokee who was an excellent playmate and watchdog.  Roz immersed herself in the Dumont community and was deeply involved with St. Mary’s Church, serving as a Life Member of the Altar Rosary Society and holding several officer positions as President and Secretary over her many years as a Rosarian.  Roz was a devout Eucharistic Minister at St. Mary’s and also worked as parish secretary in the rectory for over 20 years.  She knew everyone in the community and everyone knew Roz and always went to her for whatever they needed.   

Roz and Bob were excellent ballroom dancers and could often be seen taking the floor with graceful expertise at many a family celebration or parish affair.  They celebrated 58 years of marriage this past January.  Over many, many of those years, they were regulars at Grant Street Café enjoying their customary table and the solicitation of the staff who doted on them.  Roz was intensely loyal and devoted to the many friends she made in Dumont.  She could often be seen driving her little red Ford Focus to a hair appointment, to get her nails done or just shopping around town.  Roz looked forward with great anticipation to the family’s two-week vacation in Wildwood every August where she and Bob would gather with her whole family.  Her daughters, Maureen and Kathy and their husbands, Gary and Mike, along with her beloved grandchildren, Kyle, Julie, Lindsey and Shannon made countless memories over so many summers in Wildwood along with her sister and brother-in-law, Rose and Martin, and her niece Jo Ann.  There were many other eventful memories she treasured which all included her dear grandchildren in whom she reveled:  Weekends at Greenwood Lake in the fall, a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Disneyworld, Christmas tree decorating and just nightly visits when the girls would come over to bring their grandparents dinner and share Grandma’s favorite snack of Goldfish crackers.

Roz welcomed everyone in and made everyone feel like family.  She spent her life living her deeply personal religious faith, doing God’s work, and making the world a better place.  As a wife, mother and grandmother, aunt, friend and neighbor, Roz touched so many lives in the most profound way.

Viewing will be held on Tuesday, June 20^th from 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM at the Frech-McKnight Funeral Home, 161 Washington Avenue, Dumont, NJ 07628.  Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 21^st at 11:00 AM in St. Mary’s Church, 280 Washington Avenue, Dumont, NJ 07628.  Interment will follow in Garden of Memories Cemetery, 300 Soldier Hill Road, Township of Washington, NJ 07676.