Rose C. Ferlita's Obituary
Rose “Nana” Castelli was born on December 31, 1920, in Ybor City, Florida. She was the only child of Salvatore and Rosalia Castelli. Rose died on October 11, 2021, in Tampa, Florida, aged 100. Aptly named for the flower that symbolizes love, Rose was deep-hearted and pure. Her warmth, kindness and playful spirit were sacred gifts to all who knew Rose. Her positive outlook on life was like medicine –- preventing worry, doubt and despair. Fluent in three languages (English, Spanish and Italian), Rose was the very embodiment of the multi-cultural Ybor City community. She was an avid movie-goer, a skillful dancer, and a lover of big band music. A voracious reader of romance novels, Rose found and lived a true romance with John Ferlita, her beloved husband, who died in 1986. She and John had two children: a son, John Anthony Ferlita, and a daughter, Deanna Ferlita. Her children filled her with immense joy and happiness. Rose would later share her gentle heart, laughter and spirit with her three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, who called her “Nana.” She was, quite simply, the rarest of flowers –– ever genuine, gracious and true. She embraced her life and her family with love, humor and humility for 100 years. Now, she has retired into the peaceful, eternal embrace of God.
Rose “Nana” Castelli was preceded in death by John Ferlita (husband). She is survived by: Deanna Ferlita (daughter), Dr. John A. Ferlita (son) and Alina Rodriguez Ferlita (daughter-in-law); Lorielle Ferlita Carroll (granddaughter) and her husband, Michael Carroll; John Anthony Ferlita II (grandson); Joshua Alexander Ferlita (grandson) and his wife, Savannah Smith Ferlita; Landon James Carroll, Julia Nichole Carroll, Charles Edmund Carroll, Waylen Speir Ferlita, Beckett Alexander Ferlita, Rennick Ray Ferlita (great-grandchildren); Rose Ferlita and Marilyn Reeves (Nieces); Paul Miquel and his wife, Maggie Cundiff Miquel, William Paul-Michael Miquel; Christina Miquel Smith, Taylor Lourdes Smith and Raegan Marie Smith (loving family).
A Funeral to honor Rose’s life will take place at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, October 23, 2021, at Boza and Roel Funeral Home. The family will receive friends beginning at 9:00 a.m.
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