Rose Ochipinti

Rose Marie Ochipinti, age 87, died peacefully at home, with family by her side, March 23, after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer's. Even through the hardest times of the disease, she never lost the essence of who she truly was. She is survived by her beloved husband of 54 years, Samuel J. Ochipinti, the one person she knew and remembered until the very end.

She also leaves to mourn her loving children, Joseph Ochipinti and Laura Zaner, their caring and devoted spouses Barbara Ochipinti and Johnny Zaner, and five grandchildren, whom she adored and who adored her: Kristen And Kaitlin Ochipinti, and John Samuel, Nicole, and Evan Zaner. She is also survived by her sister, Laura Silvestri, her great Aunt Leah, several in-laws, cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Laura LaTorre, her brother Samuel LaTorre, and sister Sara Connell. During the final years of her illness, she was assisted by her faithful caregiver Ms. Dee Scott and the wonderful staff of Gilchrist Hospice.

She also had three cherished pets during her lifetime: Pluto and Edison Ochipinti and Junior Mint Zaner.

Rose was born February 28, 1925 in Fairbanks, Pennsylvania and came to the Washington, DC area in the 1950s, where she met Sam. A devoted wife and mother, Rose was also a dedicated school teacher and spent more than a decade teaching and designing curriculums for special education in Prince Georges County, Maryland, after returning to school when she was in her late 40s to earn a Masters' Degree. She was the lead educator in P.G. County to design the inclusion program for children with special needs.

Sam and Rose retired to Boca Raton, Florida, where she continued to enjoy substitute teaching for many years. She and Sam had an enjoyable retirement of traveling and spending time with family and friends. Her favorite trip was a cruise she and Sam took to Alaska.

Rose will always be remembered for her positive outlook on life, her compassionate for others, and her great sense of humor which never left her. She loved her family, her many friends, reading, bowling, playing cards, traveling, shopping, and shoes. She was a lifelong devout Catholic and an active parishioner of Holy Family and then St. John's.

The family will receive friends on Saturday March 31, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Grace Church, 15661 Norbeck Blvd, Silver Spring, MD 20906. A Mass of Christian Burial will immediately follow the viewing at the Our Lady of Grace Church.

Burial will take place at a later date at Southern Memorial Park, North Miami, Florida.

If desired, memorial contributions may be made in Rose's name to Gilchrist Hospice Care, 5537 Twin Knolls Road, Suite 434, Columbia, MD 21045.