Rose Marie (Salvi) Puma

Rose Marie (Salvi) Puma, 89, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 2, 2022, at her home following a long illness. Rose left a legacy of love and faith to her children and the Church community. She was a member of St. Anna’s Parish, a Third Order Franciscan, and active in charity throughout her life. She taught the CCD catechesis program at Holy Family for many years and was an advocate for pro-life and human rights and worked closely with the National Alliance on Mental Health in Massachusetts. Rose studied art at the New England School of Art in Boston and taught painting in Leominster for many years. She loved sacred artwork. Her religious paintings, both donated and commissioned, are scattered across the States, most notable are her life-size paintings of St. Jude – donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis (While visiting in Boston in 1959, Danny Thomas thanked Rose for the painting and for serving as the local ALSAC appointee for the hospital that same year.) – and a Divine Mercy donated to St. Anna’s Parish, where on the Feast of Divine Mercy (the first Sunday following Easter) Pastor Fr. Carlos Ruiz prays with the faithful in front of the image. She was devoted to the Divine Mercy and daily Holy Rosary.

Rose was born on October 16, 1932, in Wilpen, Pennsylvania, the youngest daughter of Francesco and Regina (Proietti) Salvi from Montegallo and Subiaco, Italy, respectively. She was a devoted wife and mother to her six children, and is survived by her husband of 67 years, Paul J. Puma Jr.; children Paul G. Puma and his wife, Sheila Puma, Mary Jo Stegman, Martin Puma, Jude Puma, Ann Marie R. Aiesi wife of the late Paul Aiesi, and Dyan L. Puma-Ciccone and her husband, Gary; grandchildren Shea and Catherine Puma, Niccolai and Piero Ciccone, Alan Stegman, Jennifer Petersen, PJ, Michael and Stephen Aiesi and Emily Melanson; sister Kitty (Salvi) Cormier; siblings (all predeceased) Nicolina Andreani, Nina Dalicandro, Sundina Brosseau, Europeo Salvi, Nicholas Salvi, Lee Salvi; and many beloved nieces and nephews. Her children are eternally grateful for their beautiful and loving mother, who touched the lives of all who knew her. She was a very special light on this earth and will be dearly missed.

The funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, April 6 at 11:00 a.m. in St. Anna’s Church, 194 Lancaster St. Burial is private. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Anna’s Parish.

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