Rose W. Sullivan

The Life of Rose Wanda Colabucci Sullivan

Born : July 2, 1927 in Washington, D. C.

Parents :  Albert Alexander Colabucci and Francesca Milani Colabucci

Italian citizens who emigrated to the United States from Segne, Italy and Rome, Italy

They became naturalized American citizens after learning English

Siblings :  Carolyn (Colabucci) Costa (deceased), Anthony Colabucci (deceased), Adrienne (Colabucci) Giuliani Hope

Education : 1946 graduate of McKinley Technical High School in Washington D.C. with a concentration on secretarial skills. Typed 120 words per minute

The story of Rose's life recounted by her loving family…

After graduating from high school in 1946, mom went to work at the National Labor Relations Board, an agency of the federal government.  She was the youngest person ever hired by that agency and was responsible for the personnel records of over10,000 federal employees. She was also responsible for the submission and coordination of employee records to the Civil Service Commission.

Mom met and married the love of her life in 1947, our dad, James Harry Sullivan. Dad was serving in the Army Air Corps and was stationed at Andrews Air Force Base.  One sunny day in May of 1947, mom and her sister, Adrienne, went to Glen Echo Amusement Park in Washington.  There they met two handsome young servicemen, one of whom later became our dad. Dad asked mom for her phone number. She gave it to him.  He finally called after two weeks, during which time she had all but forgotten about that handsome young serviceman.  After he called, they were inseparable and were married on October 5, 1947.

Dad was a 22 year veteran of the United States Armed Services (Navy during WWII, Army Air Corps 1946 to 1947, United States Air Force 1947 to 1964).  Because of dad's military service,

Mom and dad traveled extensively in Europe and in the United States, with postings at Andrews Air Force Base, Wiesbaden, Germany, Tacoma, Washington, Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  During this time, mom and dad brought two little girls into the world, Linda Christine in June of 1954 and Ann Bernadette in 1961. Mom's greatest joy in life was caring for her family, always the devoted wife and loving mother.

After dad's retirement from the military in 1964, he started working for Sentry Insurance.  He was transferred to Stevens Point in 1968.  Ann was now old enough for mom to return to work.

In 1968, she began working for the Stevens Point Public School District as the first Education Aide ever to be employed by the district.  She worked as the Multi Unit Clerical Aide for the 5thand 6th grade Units at Washington School. Additional duties included working with and preparing educational materials for the Occupational and Physical Therapy Units.  Mom also served as School Secretary for three summers under the leadership of principal, Pat Lewis.

As if caring for her family and working a demanding full-time job wasn't enough, Mom took on the role of Copy Typist for Mr. Roy Menzel, the long-time journalist with the Stevens Point Journal.  As Roy wrote his tribute to the history of his beloved hometown, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Hometown on the River, he would bring his manuscript to mom. She would thentype Roy's handwritten pages, proofread the copy with dad, and return the typed manuscript to him for submission to the publisher. On mom and dad's copy of this wonderful book, you will find Roy's handwritten inscription to mom.

Mom retired from the Stevens Point School District in 1994, after 27 years of dedicated service.

Sadly, dad passed on March 10,1990, leaving her a young widow at 62 years of age.  She spent the balance of her years involved with family and friends.  She is survived by daughters Linda (Sullivan) Moser, Ann (Sullivan) Braidwood), Son-in-law Robert Moser, sister Adrienne Hope,

Grandsons, James Moser (Rochelle), Christopher Moser (Lauren), Colin Moser (Katie), great grandchildren, Gavin Erik Moser, Mila Rose Moser, and Lincoln Reid Moser plus many beloved nieces and nephews and their families.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Rose will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday August 20, 2025, at St. Peter Catholic Church, 800 Fourth Avenue, Stevens Point. Rev. John Potaczek will officiate. Burial will be held at Wisconsin Memorial Park Cemetery at a later date. The visitation will be on Wednesday morning from 10:00 AM until time of service in the St. Faustina room at the church. Pisarski Funeral Homes are honored to be serving the Sullivan family.