Published in the November 30, 2020 edition.
BRADENTON, FL — Stanislaw “Stanley” Rossa, age 97, of Bradenton, FL, and formerly of Wakefield, died peacefully surrounded by his family on Friday, November 27 after a brief illness.
Born in Poznan, Poland on November 13, 1923, he was the son of the late Jan and Anna (Kulchinski) Rossa.
Mr. Rossa was raised in Poland and moved to the United States in 1949 after the war. He first settled in Chelsea and Revere before making his home in Wakefield, where he had been a longtime resident.
Stanley was the proud owner of OK Shank and S&R Industries, shoe manufacturing businesses, until his retirement. In 1990 he made his home in Bradenton, FL. He was a faithful Catholic and was a member of St. Florence Church in Wakefield and St. Joseph Church in Bradenton, FL.
He was also an avid golfer and loved to ballroom dance. Above all, he loved his family; he was immensely proud of his grandchildren.
He was the beloved husband of the late Vera (Borkowska) Rossa. He was the loving father of Lillian Rossa Hayes and her husband Jack of Canton and Richard Rossa and his wife Catherine of Alton Bay, NH. He was the cherished “Jaja” to Michael R. Rossa, Timothy J. Rossa, Ryan P. Hayes, and Laura Rossa Hayes. He was predeceased by his brother Anthony Rossa.
His funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Florence Church, 47 Butler Ave., Wakefield on Wednesday at 10 a.m. Visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield on Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Interment will be at Lakeside Cemetery, Wakefield. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 300 5th Ave., Suite 6, Waltham, MA 02451.
