Of Waltham passed away peacefully in her sleep, Saturday morning, July 12, 2014 at the Maristhill Skilled Nursing Center in Waltham.  She was 93.

Born and raised in Lynn to the late Tulio and Florence (Hoyt) Pizza, she spent some time in Arlington before moving to Waltham 65 years ago, where she has been a resident ever since.  She was a 1939 graduate of Lynn English High School where she was a proud member of the National Honor Society.

During World War II, like so many other patriotic women of her generation, she helped keep this nation running by working at General Electric Air Craft Division in Lynn.  After the war she married and moved to Warrendale where she raised her family and took pride in being a Homemaker. She was also Bookkeeper for S&S Overheard Door, the family business begun by her husband.

In her spare time she enjoyed reading, writing and shopping.  She was very family oriented, she loved traveling and spending time with her sisters, going to all of her grandchildren's events, and loved having a full house of family and friends during the holidays. She was a communicant of both St. Jude and Sacred Heart Parishes in Waltham.

She was the beloved wife of the late Vincent Scalese, mother of the late baby Vincent, grandmother of the late Robert and Richard Yetton, and sister of the late Eugene and Norman Pizza and Bernice Ryan.

She is survived by her loving children Joni Folsom and her husband Richard of Center Barnstead, NH, and Gary Scalese and his wife Bernadette (Collura) Scalese of Waltham, her sister Elaine Hicks of Newington, CT, her brother-in-law Frederick Ryan of Winthrop, her sister-in-law Dorothy Pizza of Malden, her cherished grandchildren Laura Peterson and her husband Robert of Waltham, Justin and Brian Scalese both of Waltham, Mark Yetton of Oklahoma, and Nicholas Folsom and his wife Stephanie of Manchester, NH, her granddaughters-in-law Heidi Yetton of Tennessee, and Tracey Yetton of Webster, NH, her great-grandchildren Melissa and Matthew Yetton both of Tennessee, Lindsay Rose and Nathan Yetton both of Webster, NH, Adam and Benjamin Peterson both of Waltham, and Bryan and Susannah Folson both of Manchester, and her great-great-granddaughter Aubree Ryder. She is also survived by many niece,  nephews, and godchildren.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend visiting hours at the Brasco & Sons Memorial, 773 Moody St. Waltham, Wednesday, July 16, 2014 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in celebration of Rose's life at Sacred Heart Church 311 River St., Waltham, at 11 a.m.  Interment to follow at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Arlington.  Parking attendants will be on duty.

Expressions of sympathy may be made in Rose's memory to Sacred Heart Church, 311 River St., Waltham, MA 02453.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Rose E. Scalese (Pizza), please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.