NORWICH – Rose Rita Dykes, just 85 on Oct. 9, passed on to heaven peacefully Friday evening, Nov. 2, 2012 with family by her side while at the Chenango Memorial Hospital Nursing Unit.
This January would have been four years that her husband of 45 years, Chester Dykes passed suddenly. Originally from Jersey City, N.J., they moved here to Pittsfield in 1965 with her three sons and made a successful living as dairy farmers. Rose also worked at the Norwich Shoe Factory and did home care for those in need. Rose was never one to be idle and was happiest when she could be a help to someone; it didn’t matter to her if she was helping to hay a field, unloading a truck full of parts for her son, or bringing a plate of her famous chocolate cupcakes for a gathering. “Many hands make light work” was one of her mother’s many quotes that she loved to share and live by. Our mom loved life and lived to love, never seeming to tire of doing and giving; she was always the first there to help and the last to leave when there was a job to be done. She was the kind of friend a friend should be and always put others needs before her own.
Rose is survived by her beloved three sons Douglas McGarrity and wife Susan, George McGarrity and wife Gail, and Russell McGarrity and wife Elizabeth. A proud and loving grandmother to Erin McGarrity and wife Kim, Renee McGarrity-Butler, Michael McGarrity, Casey McGarrity-Shaver, Russell Jr. and Alyson McGarrity. As it was always her nature to love, she was very much grandma to Michelle McIntyre, Dennis Klass and wife Kay, and Nicholas Christanis. Great grandchildren, who will always remember they were loved, Neysa McGarrity, Hunter McGarrity, Sidney and Autumn Klass and Adianna Christanis.
Her sisters Ethel Oras and Lillian Christ and brother Raymond Quinn, all of New Jersey, also survive Rose, who was the youngest of three children; her sister-in-law Winowna Nadowlski of Norwich and many loved cousins, nieces, nephews and friends locally, back in New Jersey and elsewhere.
Roses’ wishes were not to have a service in any one place, but that all would only remember her at her best and as we lovingly nicknamed her our very own “Social Butterfly”!
Donations may be made to your local SPCA in her memory as all animals; especially her pussycats brought her so much joy.
Thank you all so much for your cards, thoughts and prayers during our mother’s illness and for our loss.