Rose (Franzella) Sigona

Once upon a time, in the City of New Orleans, Louisiana, a beautiful baby girl, a blessed little angel, entered this world. She would grow, from childhood to adulthood, to shine a positive light upon all who knew her.

Rose Sigona (née Franzella) was born on March 30, 1926. She was the fourth daughter and ninth child of eleven siblings, born to her Sicilian parents, Joseph and Pauline Franzella. She grew up in a hard-working, warmhearted, and loving environment. Even in the worst of times, laughter and joy abounded.

In 1936, in the midst of the Great Depression, the Franzella family packed up and caught a train headed for "The Promised Land" of California. They settled in San Francisco. Before long the entire family was working in their father's new produce business, Franzella Brothers Fruit Market.

Rose treasured these early years of her youth, as she adored her brothers and sisters and cherished working seven days a week, side-by-side, with each of them. She learned much during these years, servicing and establishing friendships with customers from all walks of life, while learning about fresh fruit and vegetables.

In 1944, during World War II, Rose graduated from Mission High School. She was popular and beloved by all her school mates.

In October of 1945, Rose met John Sigona, who had just come home, fresh from infantry duty during World War II.

Upon first sight, the "Lightning Bolt of Love" struck both Rose and John.

John and Rose were married in Saint Peter and Paul's Catholic Church, in The City By The Bay, on June 2, 1946.

Rose and John had six children. She was always there, with a wonderful sense of joy, kindness and understanding. From the time of each child's birth and throughout all the moments of their lives, Rose was the epitome of love. Rose's husband and children were her pride and joy, her "precious gifts" from God.

She loved and cherished every moment with her family, including her six children, fifteen grandchildren, and twenty-five great-grandchildren.

Rose had a talent for singing, dancing, and acting. She often danced with her husband as both reflected pure joy and love for each other.

Throughout the years, holidays, birthdays and even weekends were cause for huge, festive celebrations at Rose and John's house in Morgan Hill, their home since 1965. These blessed occasions were filled with an abundance of homemade Sicilian-American food, laughter, and happiness.

Rose was heartbroken when the love of her life died. Her "Johnnie" passed away in April of 2014. They were married for sixty-seven glorious and blessed years.

For the remainder of her life, her sense of humor, wit and wisdom continued to amaze and comfort her family and friends. We constantly smiled or laughed as she reflected upon life's many blessings and challenges. One of her favorite songs that she often sang to us was "Accentuate The Positive (Eliminate the Negative)" –which is precisely the way she lived her life.

Rose once gave an adult grandson a dose of wit and realism. She listened to his struggles with life's challenges. "Life isn't perfect," she replied, "if it was, this would be Heaven."

Rose Sigona passed away on April 7, 2022. She is now rejoicing in Heaven with her beloved husband, John and all her loved ones.

Rose is preceded in death by her husband John and her son Frank Philip.

Rose is survived by 5 of her 6 children: John Jr. and wife Agueda, Carmelo Salvador and wife Jackie, Joseph Paul and wife Cecilia, Paul August and wife Debra, and Marilyn Melkonian (née Sigona) and husband Tony. Other survivors include her sister Rita Grenland-Toney (née Franzella), 15 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.

Friends and Family are invited to attend a Rosary Wednesday, April 20, 2022 at 7:00pm with Visitation beginning at 6:00pm at LIMA-CAMPAGNA-JOHNSON FUNERAL HOME, 17720 Monterey Street, Morgan Hill. Funeral Mass Thursday, April 21, 2022 at 1:00 pm at ST. CATHERINE OF ALEXANDRIA CATHOLIC CHURCH, 17400 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill. Interment to follow at 3:00 pm at Oak Hill Memorial Park, San Jose.

Published in Morgan Hill Times · April 12, 2022