Rosalie Moran's Obituary
ROSALIE MORAN February 29, 1936-November 4, 2016
In 1904, 13 year old Tony Noce arrived in New Orleans with his father Frank, mother Mary and six siblings—from Collesano, Sicily (Italy). In 1906, Rosario Aiello applied for U.S. citizenship. He had immigrated to the United States in the 1890s from Palermo, Sicily. His naturalization citizenship papers were processed in Venando County, Oil City, Pennsylvania. He and his wife Mary had three children—Mary, Anna and Frank.
The Mississippi River proved too great an adversary for the Noce farming family due to annual flooding. The family moved to Rochester, New York to join Frank Noce’s brother. As the Noce siblings grew up and married, they bought houses within walking distance from each other. Tony Noce married in 1925, but his wife died in childbirth. The daughter—Lillian—survived and was raised by her Aunt Nicolena. Around the same time, Ross Aiello’s daughter Mary was widowed after less than a year of marriage. A matchmaker, based in Rochester, arranged for a meeting between widower Tony Noce and widow Mary Aiello (Zappia). They were very impressed with one another. Tony Noce had grown up to be a tall and muscular man. His friends nicknamed him “the German” for his fair complexion. Mary was petite and pretty. She spoke American English. They married. Their first child Mary (Gail) was born in 1928, followed byBeatrice. On February 29, 1936, Mary Aiello Noce prematurely delivered a baby girl that she named Rosalie in honor of the Sicilian Saint Rosalia. The baby was born at home. Hospital doctors did not expect her to survive. Undaunted, her mother Mary brought her home in a shoebox and fed her a mixture of water and Karo syrup until the baby could tolerate food. She survived and thrived within a loving extended immigrant family. When Rosalie was eight, her father died suddenly. The family moved to Los Angeles on the eve of WWII. Rosalie finished high school and joined the U.S. Air Force. In June 1955, she married Airman Gordon Moran of Lakewood, Washington. Daughters Kathleen, Tamara, Rose Ann and son Michael were born to the couple. They divorced in 1970. Rosalie worked as an exotic dancer, bartender, waitress, office manager, shoe saleswoman, store manager and state agency accountant until her retirement at age 70.
Rosalie enjoyed collecting dolls and attending doll conventions with the City of Destiny Doll Guild. She volunteered for a number of organizations throughout her life. Starting in her 60s, she began to travel. Highlights included trips to Palermo, Sicily, Rochester NY, and Oil City Pennsylvania.
She was a generous woman to her children, grandchildren and great-children. She was a wise counselor. May her memory remain a blessing to all who cherished her.
What’s your fondest memory of Rosalie?
What’s a lesson you learned from Rosalie?
Share a story where Rosalie's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Rosalie you’ll never forget.
How did Rosalie make you smile?
