Rosa Lee Nigro Passantino, born May 23, 1934, in Kansas City, Missouri, passed away September 14, 2026, at the age of 92. She was wonderful mother who was devoted to her family and enjoyed a rich life with many wonderful longtime friends.

Rosa Lee married the love of her life, Leonard "Buddy" Passantino, at age 18, on Valentine's Day 1953. They were high school sweethearts. As a youngster, Rosa Lee took piano lessons, which was not her favorite activity, and she was known to hide when the piano teacher came for practice! However, she did like singing duets with her twin sister at Manuel High School. She enjoyed growing up in the North End and going to Don Bosco to meet friends.

In her teens she played table tennis and later played softball and bowled with her husband. Rosa Lee enjoyed traveling everywhere, from Europe to road trips throughout the USA, with wonderful traveling companions such as her brother and sister-in-law Ross and Gloria Nigro. She also loved cruising, shopping at the ports, and taking ceramic classes.

Rosa Lee loved planning all four of her daughter's weddings. Everything was meticulously planned and nothing was left to chance. The wedding tables were loaded with many trays of delicious Italian cookies that were stacked almost as high as the wedding cakes! She beaded wedding dresses, picked out color schemes, and made hundreds of ornate convetti's for each of her four daughter's weddings. It was a labor of love.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 49 years, Buddy; her parents William Reed and Josephine Nigro; father-in-law and mother-in-law George Leonard and Lena Cuccia Passantino; brothers Salvatore Nigro and Ross Nigro; sister and brother-in-law Theresa Lee and Joe Cusimano; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Marguerite "Babe" and Bob Licata; and sister-in-law and brother-in-law Marie and Joe Disciacca.

She is lovingly survived by her five children, Anita Josephine "Bunny" and Samuel Caruso, Theresa Ann Passantino, JoMarie and Peter Louis Catalano, George Leonard and Christy Passantino, and Marguerite Rose and Francis "Buddy" O'Gara Jr.; her sister-in-law Gloria Nigro, who she loved more as a sister; her grandchildren Rose Ann Peterson (James), JoMarie Schmalz (Wes), Paula Jo Baggiani (Spencer), JoAnna Marie Britt, Frank Leonard Wille (Nicole), Samuel Leonard Caruso (Kayla), Rosalee Lucia Moriarity, Antionette Marshall (Michael), Patricia Josephine Donnini (Richard), Francis "Frank" O'Gara III, Rosalee Marie Andrews (Hunter); and many beloved great-grandchildren.

Her family takes solace that she is once again united with her adoring husband. She will be truly missed by all her family.

Special thanks to her forever friend Clara LaSala, who never failed to keep in touch with her - sending flowers, cookies, gifts, and cards along with numerous phone calls that always brightened her day.

The Rosary will be prayed at 3:00 p.m. followed by Visitation from 3:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 17, at Passantino Bros. Funeral Home. The Funeral Mass will be 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 18, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church. Burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery.

Pallbearers: Rose Ann Peterson, JoMarie Schmalz, JoAnna Marie Britt, Frank Leonard Wille, Samuel Leonard Caruso, Rosalee Lucia Moriarity, Frank Leo O'Gara III, Michael Marshall.