Rose Anne Smyth

Apr 10, 1932 -

Aug 20, 2020

Rose Anne Smyth, 88, of Phoenix, Ariz., passed away on Aug. 20, 2020, at Hospice at Hospice of the Valley. She was born in Monessen, Pa., on April 10, 1932, to Giuseppe and Dominica Prociu and Dominica Prociutto Smarelli. Rose had joined the United States Air Force in September 1951, where, while serving, she met her husband Clarence "Jerry" Smyth. They were married on Oct. 25, 1952, in Monessen and began their Air Force career life. They had lived for the majority of their Air Force service in San Antonio, Texas, where Rose was a stay-at-home mom to their three children: Becky, Rick and Annette. They had many friends through the military and through bowling. They had many families get together and many fishing and water sports outings at Medina Lake while in San Antonio. After Jerry's deployment to Sparrevohn Air Force Base in Alaska, they began their desire to go to the Land of the Last Frontier. Their dream came true when they moved to Alaska in 1969, and resided there until their move to Phoenix, Ariz., in 2017. While in Alaska, Rose began working for the Civil Service on Fort Richardson in Anchorage until her retirement in 1988. Rose was active in bowling for herself as well as her daughter Annette, who was a member of the Special Olympics in bowling, swimming and other events through ARCA. She began golfing, which became hers and Jerry's sport of choice, except for fishing. They fished every weekend in the summer in Seward and kept their boat moored at the marina and stayed at the Military FamCamp in Seward every weekend. They fished in the Seward Silver Salmon Derby diligently each year, and once Rose having the thrill of coming in second place. After both Rose and Jerry retired, they took to the life of RV traveling, driving their motorhome across the states, staying in military RV resorts where they were able to golf most days, have happy hour with their friends they met along the way, and enjoy all of the events offered at the resorts. Many friends and family visited them while they were in Florida, where they stayed many years, until they decided to stay closer to home and put down roots at the RV resort at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas. They would come home to Anchorage each summer where Jerry worked at the military golf courses, and they continued to golf frequently and attended their daughter Annette's events through the Special Olympics and other events through her community. Throughout Rose's life, her faith never faltered, and she attended church each Sunday no matter where they were, and she was a prominent member at St. Anthony's Church in Anchorage since they arrived in Alaska. In 2017, Rose and Jerry moved to Phoenix, where they kept busy with family, the great-grandchildren and daily trips to the casino playing Keno. Rose is survived by her daughter, Becky Smyth of Woodbury, Minn.; sister, Mamie Kostelansky of Clearwater, Fla.; daughter-in-law, Bonnie Smyth of Phoenix; granddaughter, Nicole Smyth and her children Joey, Madison and Holly of Phoenix; grandson, Jerry Smyth his wife Stephanie and their son Sage of Phoenix; brother-in-law, Bill Smyth of Coquille, Ore.; sister-in-law, Sharon McNeill of Enid, Okla.; sister-in-law, Jean Smarelli of Monagahela, Pa.; many nieces and nephews and extended family.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Smyth; son, Rick Smyth; daughter, Annette Smyth; granddaughter, Jenny Smyth; siblings, Nick, James, George, Connie and Angeline.

Private services were held in Phoenix on Aug. 22, 2020, with cremation and the presenting of the U.S. flag to the family at Heritage Funeral Chapel, 6830 West Thunderbird Road, Peoria, AZ 85381.

To share memories with Rose's family, visit www.heritagefuneralchapels.com.