Obituary of Rose Elizabeth Gerbert

Rose Elizabeth Gerbert passed away peacefully after a long battle with Alzheimer’s, at Waveny Nursing Home on Saturday, February 13, 2021. Rose was born on January 4, 1927, in Stamford, Connecticut to her parents Anthony and Mary Colabella. Rosie touched many lives, her selflessness has always been a part of who she was, always putting others first. She was the person in our family who everyone wanted to be around. Her smile was infectious and her endearing spirit filled the lives of those who were with her. Rosie was the life of any party, always smiling and laughing. If you weren’t having a good time with her, then you were the “party pooper” of the family. Once you were a part of the family, she would welcome you with open arms and cook for you any chance she could get. If you weren’t eating she was not happy. Whether it be the middle of the day, or the middle of the night, she would whip up something good to eat as if she had been preparing for hours. 

Rosie grew up on the West Side of Stamford attended Stamford Public Schools but never graduated. She left school to provide an income for her family so they could survive financially. She met her husband Earl on a blind date and the rest was history, they married in November of 1945 and started a family. 

Rosie was an avid bowler and gambler. She bowled in the Nutmeg leagues for most of her life and traveled with her teams to Reno and Las Vegas several times for tournaments. She also enjoyed Duck Pin Bowling and scored a 200 during one of her games. Rosie was a great poker player and would never pass up a good game. She also spent many hours at the casinos using the slot machines until the sun came up. There were many times that Rosie was so involved in her poker games that she missed the bus home and had to stay the night. 

Rosie worked as a waitress for many years, at Innis Arden, Pasta Plus, and Stamford Yacht Club. She loved her faith, attended Sacred Heart Church and was involved in the Rosary Society. 

Rosie is survived by her children, Denise Gillham and her husband Don, Robert Gerbert, Christian Gerbert and his wife Briann, Jeffrey Gerbert and his wife Alicia. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Tina Rodgers and husband Tim, Kari Mashburn and husband Mike, Dylan Gillham and wife Renee, Donald Scott, Bob Gerbert and wife Michelle, Pete Gerbert, Domenick Gerbert, Daniel Gerbert, Shannon Gerbert and Matthew Rada. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren, Lexi, Grady, Ryder, Parker, Cadence, Chloe, Jake, Jack and Jordan. 

Rosie is also survived by her siblings, Angie Dicine, Anthony Colabella and his wife Marge and sister-in-law Ginny Colabella. She also left behind many nieces, nephews and friends. 

She was predeceased by her husband Earl “Wally” Gerbert, brother Nicholas Colabella, his wife Clara, brother Anthony “Buster” Colabella, brother-in-law Anthony “Dickie” Dicine, twin sister Catherine Silverman her husband David, and sister Anna Kostopoulous and her husband Anthony. 

Rosie was a cancer survivor and survived having Covid-19. She was able to celebrate her 94th birthday in January with her family who could see her through a window from outside the nursing home due to Covid restrictions.

 “Nobody else held us so tight or made us feel so right, no one’s eyes shined so bright with love, as our mom who is now high above.” 
Services to celebrate her life, will be held on Saturday, February 20, 2021 at Thomas M. Gallagher Funeral Home, 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford, CT. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 a.m. followed by a service at Sacred Heart Church, Schuyler Avenue, Stamford, CT at 12:30 p.m. 

For those of you who have reached out regarding our needs as a family during this painful time, know that we appreciate your support. If you are able to, please send funds to our Go Fund Me to help us pay for the funeral and memorial services for Rosie.

Here is the link to the Go Fund Me page https://gofund.me/f27db74a
Please email me for any information regarding the Zoom link for the services, leeshapg@gmail.com.