Rose Esther Cuccia, 81, passed away September 10, 2018. The Rosary will be prayed at 4 p.m. followed by Visitation 4:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, September 12, at Passantino Bros. Funeral Home. The Mass of Christian Burial will  be 11 a.m. Thursday, September 13, at St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church, 6415 NE Antioch Rd., Gladstone, MO 64119. Entombment will follow at White Chapel Memorial Gardens.

Rose Esther was born July 3, 1937, to the late Joseph and Katherine (Fiorello) Distefano. She had worked with her son at Dominic's Casual Italian Restaurant since 1995, and with her grandson Nicholas at Nicky's Pizza. She always gave of her time to help others, especially volunteering for St. Joseph's Tables.

Rose Esther was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Salvatore Joseph Cuccia, in 2004; her brother, John Distefano; and her sister, Sylvia Simone. She is survived by her children and their spouses, Donna and Tim Dernosek, Dominic and Angela Cuccia, Kathy and Brian Griga; her grandchildren, Nicholas Haug, Tony Haug, Sal Meiners, Alaina and Paul Milano, Salvatore and Julie Cuccia, Frank Dernosek; her great-grandchildren, Michelangelo, Angelina, Guiliana, and Dominic; brothers and sisters-in-law, Nick and Karen Distefano, Carl and Trish Distefano; and sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Florence Distefano, John Simone, Marie and Joe Brancato, Joe and Francesca Cuccia.

Her grandsons will be her pallbearers.

Condolences may be offered at www.passantinobros.com