Rosammah Stanislaus, family and community matriarch and our beautiful rose, peacefully died on Sunday, Feb. 14, after several years of declining health. She died in Greensboro, where she moved years ago, surrounded by her family.She led a remarkable journey of love, inspiration, guidance, courage and tenacity that opened the eyes, minds and hearts of everyone she touched.
Rose, her official name after she became a U.S. citizen in 1977, was born on Oct. 25, 1931 to parents Lillippoo Mudiyappan and Daniel Vairaven, both deceased, in Ceylon, which is now known as the Republic of Sri Lanka.
She graduated from Jaffna Holy Family Covent, a national school, in Jaffna, Sri Lanka and completed bookkeeping classes in Sri Lanka. She married Santiago Stanislaus on Dec. 28, 1959, and they had three children – two sons and one daughter. After he traveled to the U.S. to create a better life for his family, Rose, who’d never left her home country, traveled in 1968 with her three children alone to meet him and establish themselves in the U.S.
The family settled in Staten Island, New York, where they lived for 26 years and later moved to New Jersey. While in New York, Rose took accounting classes at the College of Staten Island and got a certificate from the City University of New York.
Rose worked for CIT Financial Group in Manhattan, New York as a bank clerk and retired from the now Bank of New York Mellon Corporation as a bookkeeper.
Since Rose and Stan were one of the earliest Sri Lankan Tamil immigrants to move to Staten Island, they opened their home to other immigrants, advising and nurturing them, showing them around Staten Island and Manhattan and serving as surrogate family and friends. She was the heart of her family’s Staten Island home that was the center of celebration, and guidance for so many to become the better part of themselves. Rose was a family person who loved to cook, including preparing traditional Sri Lankan meals. In addition to her three children, she unofficially adopted many others and never forgot their birthdays or those of their children. She took pride in her family and celebrated their accomplishments and those of her grandchildren.
She relished being called Amma, which means mom, auntie and grandma
Rose never met a stranger, loved deeply and always helped those in need. She loved a good party and adored being around friends and family, often hosting large Thanksgiving gatherings to all looking for a good meal. Despite being small in stature, Rose was a fighter and was passionate about her beliefs. While dementia tried to rob her of her memory, she fought on tirelessly and maintained her grace, gentile nature and distinguished aura.
Rose is survived by her husband of 62 years, Stan; three children, Raj (wife Pam), Mathy (wife Suganthy) and Amutha (husband James); four grandchildren, Brandon, Morgan, Jensen and Faith; one great grandchild Dominic and a host of nieces and nephews. Her parents and brother, Daniel Mariathasan, preceded her in death.
While our hearts are broken at the loss of our Rose, we know that her velvety petals and intoxicating aroma will live on in eternity and her loving spirit will guide us forever. Funeral arrangements through Woodard Funeral Home Greensboro NC(see website: woodardfuneralhomeinc.com)
