Rose Mary Rush Gross

January 01, 1970

Rose Mary Rush Gross​​​​
March 14, 1926 – May 27, 2024

​Rose Mary Rush Gross, 98, formerly of Ross Township, PA passed away on Monday, May 27, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on March 14, 1926, in Holgate, Ohio, near Toledo, a daughter of the late Herman A. and Mary O’Neill Rush. Beloved wife of fifty-three years to the late Alvin C. Gross. Mother of Mary Ann Gross (H. Kenneth Sacks), David J. Gross and Gregory P. Gross, also step-grandson Kenneth C. Sacks (Brandy Sacks) and great grandchildren Tauren and Taelyn, all of the Pittsburgh area. Surviving are also sister, Audrey Wright (William, deceased) of Fairborn, OH, Elizabeth Rush (brother James, deceased) of Manhattan, Kansas, and many nieces and nephews.

​Rose Mary earned a bachelor’s degree in Vocal Education Music at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in 1947. During her 18-year teaching career, she taught public school choral music in Elkhart, Indiana, Portland, Oregon, Schenectady, New York, and was a substitute teacher in the North Hills School District for ten years.

​Her love of music led to performances in the 1950s with the Schenectady Light Opera Company, and an interview on Frank Farrell’s radio show in NYC, along with actor Paul Ford and rising star Harry Belafonte. She sang with the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, and directed and performed in community musicals during the 1970s for the St. Teresa of Avila Church choral group in Perrysville, PA. Her volunteer activities included 10 years of reading and recording books for the R.I.S. Radio Information for the Blind, playing piano and singing for over 20 years for the Kane Hospital North residents, and putting on countless Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter and other programs. She and her husband were members of the Council for International Visitors, hosting foreign visitors in their home and showing them the sites of Pittsburgh.

​Rose Mary’s creative talents were most on show through her programs of historical figures she developed and performed from the 1980s until just 6 years ago around the Pittsburgh area, Erie, PA, Buffalo, NY, Indiana, PA and various other places. There are still people who remember her costumed performances of Jeannie Foster, wife of Stephen Foster, the mother and then wife of Irvin Berlin, Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of Abe Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Frankin and others. The audience became part of the presentation by singing songs, accompanied by her lively piano playing.

​The family wishes to gratefully thank the staff, medical and care teams of New Hope Personal Care Home, Avalon, PA and also Commonwealth Hospice for the care they gave her these past years, and to all those relatives and friends who called, visited, sent cards and gifts she so appreciated.

​Friends will be received Friday, May 31 from 2pm to 4pm, and 6pm to 8pm at DEVLIN FUNERAL HOME, 806 Perry Highway, North Hills, www.devlinfuneralhome.com. A Blessing Service will be held at the Funeral Home on Saturday, June 1 at 11:00 am.

A private service will be held at a later date at St. Mary’s Parish, now Holy Trinity Catholic Parish in Assumption, Ohio. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children (lovetotherescue.org), Evergreen Community Library (253 Maple Street, P.O. Box E, Metamora, OH 43540) or to a charity of your choice.