Rose A. Thayer

October 5, 1923 - July 29, 2012

COOPERSTOWN - Rose A. Thayer, loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, passed away Sunday evening, July 29, 2012, at Otsego Manor. She was 88.

Rose was born October 5, 1923, in Cooperstown, a daughter of Joseph F. and Alfonsina (Benedetto) Russo, who emigrated from Italy in 1920.

Raised in Cooperstown, Rose graduated from Cooperstown High School with the Class of 1941. On December 27, 1942, she married Wendall M. Thayer, Sr. in a ceremony at St. Mary's "Our Lady of the Lake" Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown.

Following their marriage, Rose and Wendall settled in Cooperstown where they raised their family. For many years Rose served as the cafeteria manager at the Cooperstown Central School. Upon her retirement from the school she served until 2011 as a court attendant for the Otsego County Sheriff's Department at the Otsego County Court House.  A devoted fan of the Atlanta Braves, she was also employed by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum as their first female "red coat".  For many years Rose served on the Board of Elections and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Unit 7128 in Cooperstown, as  well as the Criterion Club and Native Daughters of Cooperstown.

A communicant of St. Mary's "Our Lady of the Lake" Roman Catholic Church, Rose was active in the church's Bereavement Ministry, especially in providing food for funeral luncheons. A very loving and giving person, she will be fondly remembered for always having cookies and cupcakes at the ready to give to family and friends who often stopped by for a visit. Rose possessed a wonderful sense of humor and was a mother to all. She will be greatly missed.

Rose is survived by her children, Sarah M. (Sallie) Harrington of Cooperstown and Wendall M. (Toby) Thayer, Jr. and his wife, Margaret (Peggy), of Voorheesville; four grandchildren, Tracey Parker and her husband, Steven, of New Lisbon, Jeffrey Harrington and his wife, Shannon, of Oneonta, Robert J. Thayer and his wife, Michelle, of Rotterdam and Margaret Rose (Maggie) Thayer of Voorheesville; four great grandchildren, Caleb, Sheridan and Stephanie Parker and Emma Harrington; one brother, America Russo and his wife Johnny Jo of Paris, Texas; three sisters, Olympia Burns of Woodstock, Mary Hollister and her husband John of Rome and Antonetta Russo of Oneonta; and many nieces and nephews.

She is further survived by her late husband's family, Polly and Don Knapp of Elk Creek, Durward and Audrey Thayer of Oneonta and Richard Teachout of Richfield Springs.

In addition to her family, Rose leaves behind her extended family of loving and dedicated caregivers in the Winding Brook neighborhood, Oak's Creek household at Otsego Manor. The kindness, care and compassion given to Rose, especially near the end of her life, will be forever appreciated by her immediate family. 

She was predeceased by her husband, Wendall M. Thayer, Sr., who died April 6, 1977; twin brothers, Joseph and Raphael Russo; two sisters, Anna Pugliese and Vera R. Barnes; and a son-in-law, Ellis I. Harrington, who died September 21, 2007.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Monday, August 6, 2012, at St. Mary's "Our Lady of the Lake" Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown with Fr. John P. Rosson, pastor, presiding. The Service of Committal and Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Index.

Friends may call at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown from 2 - 6 PM on Sunday, August 5, 2012, when Rose's family will be in attendance.

As an alternative to flowers, Rose's family suggests memorial gifts be made to Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care, 1 Birchwood Drive, Oneonta,  NY 13820 or the American Cancer Society, 13 Beech Street, Johnson, NY 13790.

Arrangements are under the guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.


If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers, or call them at (607) 547-8822.