Rose M. Koppenhaver, 82, of Wilmington, Delaware passed away on Tuesday, July 20, 2021, while in the care of Seasons Hospice.
Born on March 5, 1939 in Mackeysburg, Cass Township, Pennsylvania, she was the youngest daughter of seven children of the late Aloysius and Ann O’Boyle Tobin.
She married the love of her life, John Koppenhaver. They would have been married 59 years in November. If you saw Rose, there was John, you never saw one without the other. They were best friends and truly loved each other. The past four years she resided at Gilpin Hall Nursing Home. John visited every day and never missed a day. During the pandemic it was hard on both of them. Their last in person visit was March 5, 2020, after that their visits were once a week through a window at the facility.
Rose loved her three grandchildren. She spent countless hours playing games with them, going to the park, and letting them spend the night with mom mom and pop pop.
She cherished her cat, Dusty. She brought him into her home when he was only a kitten. Dusty is now 20 years old and living with her daughter.
Rose was a snowbird after John retired. They would go to Florida every year for five months. She looked forward to going every year, traveling, camping, crabbing, bike riding, going to the beach, and playing bingo.
She was a member of St. John the Beloved Catholic Church, Wilmington, Delaware.
She was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Brittany Anne Carucci; her brother, Aloysius Tobin; and three sisters, Catherine Campion, Jean Albertini, Philomena Lipshaw. Her sister, Ann Marie Urmanavage, passed away on July 21, 2021, the day after Rose.
Rose is survived by her husband of 59 years, John (Chet) (Jack) Koppenhaver; daughter, Denise Carucci; son-in-law, Anthony Carucci; son, John Koppenhaver; three grandchildren, Nicholas Carucci (spouse, Amanda Finney), Jennifer Carucci, and Alyssa Koppenhaver. She is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Elizabeth and Charles Lavis of Orefield, PA.
The family would like to thank the nurses, aids and staff that took care of Rose at Gilpin Hall. They loved and cared for her like family.
The family would also like to thank Seasons Hospice for their compassionate care of Rose.
Interment will be at the Veterans Cemetery in Bear, Delaware. Services will be private.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to:
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital - 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105
Alzheimer’s Disease Research - 22512 Gateway Center Drive, PO Box 1950, Clarksburg, MD 20871-1950
Faithful Friends Animal Society - 12 Germay Drive, Wilmington, Delaware 19804
