Rosalie Esther Tavilla

Rosalie Esther Tavilla

September 28, 1936 – September 11, 2026

Rosalie Esther Tavilla, 89, passed away peacefully on September 11, 2026, in Virginia, where she had made her home for the past four years. She lived in a small home next door to her niece, Sylvia Maselli Smith, and was lovingly cared for by Sylvia and her husband, Ted, along with a devoted team of caregivers who helped care for her throughout her final years. Rosalie passed from this life with her loving niece Sylvia by her side, surrounded by love and the comfort of the home where she had been so lovingly cared for.

Born on September 28, 1936, in Massachusetts, Rosalie lived in many places throughout her life, including Florida, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and California. Wherever she lived, she made friends, built relationships, and created a life filled with family, faith, adventure, and purpose.

Rosalie was born to Paul and Stella Tavilla and was the third youngest of ten children—seven brothers and two sisters. She was deeply devoted to her family and immensely proud of each and every one of them. She was preceded in death by her siblings Tina, Stephen, Pauline, Anthony, Joseph, Ernest, Paul, and David, as well as her beloved brothers- and sisters-in-law Aldo, Claire, Salvatore, Alba, and Virginia, and several nephews. She is survived by her brother Richard and his wife, Martha, and her sisters-in-law Mary Jane, Pauline, and Dorothea.

Rosalie was the beloved aunt of 37 nieces and nephews and countless great-nieces and great-nephews. To them, she was simply “Auntie”—and to many, she was the favorite. Family was everything to Rosalie. She never forgot a birth, birthday, high school graduation, wedding, anniversary, or any other important milestone. She noticed every detail and somehow always remembered what mattered to the people she loved.

“God is in the details” was one of Rosalie’s favorite sayings, and she truly lived it. She was thoughtful in ways both big and small, always finding a way to let someone know they were remembered. In her later years, she became famous in the family for making her own birthday cards, often featuring a treasured family photograph from years gone by. She never missed a birthday.

Her generosity was legendary. Rosalie was known for giving someone—a friend or family member—a little money and telling them to go out and buy themselves an ice cream cone. She gave freely and thoughtfully, often simply because she wanted someone else to enjoy a little something.

Rosalie was also a gifted storyteller and the keeper of her family’s history. She loved remembering the past and making sure those memories would not be lost. In one of her greatest gifts to future generations, she wrote a book entitled As I Remember. It was her own memories and version of the family’s story. She made copies so that every family member, especially her nieces and nephews could have one. Through her love and determination, the family’s stories were preserved for generations to come.

Rosalie was an amazing friend and often said, “I never met a stranger.” She truly lived that way. She had a gift for making people feel comfortable, welcomed, and valued, whether she had known them for years or had just met them. The friends she made became family to her, and she cherished those relationships throughout her life.

Rosalie had an entrepreneurial spirit and enjoyed a long and varied career in business. She worked as a bookkeeper for her family’s business, P. Tavilla Company, in Boston, and went on to pursue many different business ventures and business-related careers throughout her life. Among them, she owned The Door Stop, a door company, and later owned and operated a Bed & Breakfast, The John David House. Her career reflected her independence, curiosity, determination, and willingness to try something new.

Rosalie loved to travel and saw much of the world throughout her life. She especially loved sharing those adventures with family members, taking many trips with her nieces and nephews and creating memories that they would treasure for years to come. She collected memories and stories wherever she went and never lost her sense of adventure.

Most importantly, Rosalie loved the Lord. Throughout her life, she was involved in various ministries and loved serving and encouraging others. She was a member of Ash Camp Baptist Church and also deeply loved and supported New Life Home in Manchester, New Hampshire, a faith-based recovery home serving women.

Her faith was an important part of who she was and how she lived. Her favorite song was “What a Day That Will Be,” and her favorite Bible verse was Philippians 1:6:

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

In her later years, the devotional Daily With the King and its author became especially meaningful to her. So deeply did it touch her own relationship with the Lord that Rosalie gifted copies to many family members and friends. It was her hope that others would experience the same personal, intimate relationship with the Lord that meant so much to her. Through this simple gift, Rosalie continued what came naturally to her—sharing her faith and pointing others toward the Lord she loved.

Rosalie’s family is grateful for her devoted caregivers Eileen Dolson, Becky Davis, and Daysha Brogdon, whose care and compassion helped make her final years more comfortable and filled with love.

Rosalie leaves behind a legacy of faith, generosity, family, friendship, adventure, and love. She will be remembered not only for the many things she did, but for the way she made people feel—seen, remembered, welcomed, and loved.

She never met a stranger. She never forgot a birthday. She never missed a detail. And she never seemed to run out of love to give.

Rosalie was, quite simply, a gift to her family and to the many people who had the privilege of knowing her. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.

Services

A graveside service celebrating Rosalie’s life will be held on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at:

Cambridge Cemetery 76 Coolidge Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Please join us for lunch at noon at: Cafe Escadrille 26 Cambridge Street, Burlington, Massachusetts

Please RSVP by October 12 by text to Lisa Goniprow at 401-575-3540.

In Lieu of Flowers

In lieu of flowers, the family invites those who wish to honor Rosalie’s memory to consider making a donation to either of the ministries she loved and supported:

Ash Camp Baptist Church

Rosalie was a devoted member of the church and deeply valued its ministry.

Ash Camp Baptist Church

New Life Home

Manchester, New Hampshire

A faith-based recovery home serving women.

New Life Home