Rosary M. Larochelle

Rosary “Nana” (Martorana) Larochelle, 87, of York Street, passed away on Tuesday, April 11, 2017, at the South Portland Nursing Home, in South Portland.

Rosary was born in Portland, Maine, on January 21, 1930. She was the daughter of Carmelo Martorana and Josephine (Sachielle) Martorana who imigrated from Italy.

She graduated from Cathedral/Catherine Mcauley High School in 1947. Five years later on May 3, 1952, she married her high school sweetheart, Ralph Larochelle, who she lost in January of 2010.

Rosary was employed as a bookkeeper at Campbell, Payson & Noyes Insurance Agency, retiring after 47 years of service. She often joked that her longevity with the company was because she had been wheeled into work while still in a baby carriage, when in fact, her affinity for numbers and exceptional typing skills, honed from studying classical piano, had caught the attention of her high school principal who recommended her at 16 for the job. After her retirement, Rosary also worked for The American Food Service and Maine People’s Alliance.  She was also a parishioner of Saint Dominic’s Church in Portland.

Most of all, Nana loved her family and family gatherings. She happily shared her birthday with her youngest granddaughter, Jocelyn, age 11. Everyone who knew her was touched by her love and generosity. Christmas was her favorite holiday and she loved the smell of a fresh pine tree.  She would have loved to have a Monument Square sized tree in her living room. She loved cooking enormous family dinners, filling the table with pasta, pot roasts, and many, many desserts.

Rosary was predeceased by her husband of 58 years, Ralph Larochelle and her only brother John Martorana. Rosary is survived by her two daughters, Roxanne Larochelle-Vincent and Rebecca Lake; five granddaughters, Valorie Lake, Josephine Vincent, Jenavieve Vincent and Jocelyn Vincent, one grandson, Julian Vincent; two great-grandchildren Lance Murphy-Lake and Daniel Yates; nieces Angie Martorana and Lynn Martorana Marcisso; and great- nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, April 19, at 10 a.m. at Saint Peter’s Church, 72 Federal St., Portland.

In lieu of flowers, Rosary’s family would like donations to go to the Rosary Larochelle Memorial Fund at St. Jude children’s research hospital.

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