ROSE, Margaret Theresa 89 of West Roxbury, died peacefully at home on October 18, 2017 after a long struggle with breast cancer, surrounded by the love and comfort of her family. She was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert ‘Red’ J. Rose (B.F.D. Ret). She was the cherished mother of Stephen of Peabody, Michael of Hamden, Connecticut, Mark of Leland, North Carolina, Patrick of Walpole, Kevin of Ipswich, Kathleen Esposito of Wilmington, NC, Margaret ‘Peggy’ and Timothy, both of West Roxbury. She was the devoted grandmother of 19 grandchildren and great grandmother of 10. She leaves a brother James Sullivan of Nantucket, and numerous nieces and nephews. Margaret ‘Peg’ was born in Roxbury to Irish immigrant parents, Jeremiah and Margaret Sullivan, the seventh of eight children. She graduated from Roxbury Memorial HS in 1945 as Class President and was determined to attend college despite strong opposition from home. Peg went to work and paid her way through The Teachers College of the City of Boston. She graduated in 1949, serving as the Senior Class Vice President. She went on to teach in the Boston Public School system for 15 years. In 1965, Margaret and her husband Red, a Boston Firefighter, purchased Prescott’s Fish Market in Roslindale Square. They ran a successful fish market providing ‘Fresh Fish Daily’ for the next 28 years. Mrs. Rose was well known for her charming demeanor and friendliness to the many customers that frequented the store. After they retired, the couple returned to where they first met after WWII, Nantucket Island. They spent the next several summers there, primarily working for a United States Ambassador Elizabeth Bagley. Mrs. Rose continued there for many more years after her husband passed away, retiring for good at age 82. She loved the island life on Nantucket but the highlight of each summer was having her various children and their families come for vacation. Margaret was a faithful, 65 year member of St. Theresa’s Parish in West Roxbury. She had a lifelong love of learning and the Arts. She was a frequent museum goer, visiting the new McMullen Museum at Boston College just two weeks ago. She never missed an opportunity to attend a lecture at the local branch of the Boston Public Library. She enjoyed classes at the YMCA. She was a voracious reader whose favorite genre was biographies. She stayed up on current events, read the newspaper daily and frequently clipped articles to send to family members on subjects she knew they would enjoy. Margaret walked everywhere, long before it was a known health benefit. City girl that she was, she could get anywhere by public transportation and didn’t acquire a driver’s license until she was in her 50’s. Naturally, Margaret never retired from the roles she knew best: mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was kind, compassionate and a profoundly generous person. A number of times she opened her home to local high school students that needed a place to stay indefinitely. She was a wonderful friend and nurtured many of her friendships from her college days throughout her life. She took pride in passing on her love of education to her children and all eight are college graduates. Margaret was the embodiment of a loving wife and mother. She will be deeply mourned and dearly missed by all those who knew and loved her. Beloved grandchildren: Damon, Mark and Bryan Rose, Maureen Carr and Christine Rose, Kimberly, Lauren DiGiantommaso and Stephanie Rose, Daniel Rose, Kelly, Michael, Colleen and Emily Esposito, Sean, Francis, Jeremiah, Alana and Tucker Rose, Shane Rose. Precious great grandchildren: Avery, Mason, Caitlin and Ryan Rose, John and James Rose, Joseph and Giovanna DiGiantommaso, Tennyson and Saturnino Rose. Funeral from the William J. Gormley Funeral Home 2055 Centre St. WEST ROXBURY, Monday, October 23rd at 9 am, followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Theresa Church at 10 o’clock. Visiting hours Sunday 4-8 pm. Relatives and friends invited. Interment St. Joseph Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Margaret’s name to St. Theresa of Avila Church, 2078 Centre St., West Roxbury, MA 02132. For directions and guestbook www.gormleyfuneral.com