Rosalie "Red" Sparacino, 89, of Roscoe passed away on May 9th, 2018 at Saint Anthony Medical Center. She was born on August 11, 1928 in Rockford to George and Josephine Reola. Rosie graduated from West High School and married Philip Sparacino in 1946. Rosie and Phil fell in love at first sight at Hodel's Pharmacy, in Rockford, and were married 53 years. They shared their love of cooking as the owners of Gene's Chili Shop on W. State & Rockton Avenue for years, though it was Rosie's cooking at home that truly shaped her family.

Her kitchen was the heart of her home, and Sunday dinners at the house were packed with family and friends, her door always open to loved ones. She crafted homemade pasta, filling the kitchen and wooden clothes racks with ribbons of pasta drying everywhere. She made cucidatis by the hundreds, care packages by the pound, and succo by the gallon, delighting in feeding…well, everyone.

Rosie loved gardening, dogs and watching birds. She loved her grandchildren more.

She was a lifetime member of St. Anthony Church and a valued manager at Hilander on Alpine, where she worked for over 25 years.

She is survived by children George (Serena) Sparacino, Susie Burns, Nancy (Tom) Williams, Lisa (Hal) Wilson, daughter-in-law Marcella Sparacino, nine grandchildren and fifteen great- grandchildren, sisters-in-law Lydia Reola and Josephine Sparacino Fleming, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and by her beloved dogs, Bella, Bailey, Zoe & Pogo.

She was predeceased by her husband, her son Charles, son-in-law Bob Burns, siblings Mary (Ken) Johnson, Frannie (Ray) Andreoni, and Joseph Reola. Brothers & sister-in-law Molly and Tony Sparacino & Frank Sparacino.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, May 19th, 2018 from 9:00 - 10:45 am at St Anthony Church, 1005 Ferguson St. Rockford. Funeral Mass at 11:00 am. Internment at Sunset Memorial Gardens to follow.

Grace Funeral & Cremation Services assisted the family. Go to gracefh.com to share a memory or condolence.