Rose Marie Aquino (nee: Di Geronimo) - a lifelong resident of Jersey City, passed away peacefully at her daughter’s residence surrounded by her loved ones on Friday January 30th, 2026, she was 95. Rose worked as a mortgage processor for many years for Provident Bank in NJ before retiring, was a member of the “Toastmasters” and was a vivacious and avid dancer with her late husband Vincent Joseph Aquino. Rose was the devoted mother to Frank Aquino and wife Mary, Vincent Aquino & Carolyn Silverman, the cherished grandmother to Kaitlin Acharya and husband Priyam, Liam Aquino, Kelly Weiss and husband Luke & Lauren Silverman-Ryan and husband Shawn and the cherished great-grandmother to Cillian & Nora Acharya and to Ella & Riley Weiss. Rose was pre-deceased by her sister,Josephine, and her late husband Joseph. Surviving Rose are her sisters Victoria Pacillo (the late Gerard) & Laura Foster and husband Frank. A visitation will be held for Rose on Tuesday February 3rd from 2-4 and 6-8PM at Migliaccio Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 851 Kennedy Blvd. (At 33rd St.) in Bayonne. Rose will then be laid to rest with her late husband on Wednesday February 4th at 11:30AM at Holy Name Cemetery in Jersey City, with all welcome to gather at the funeral home starting at 10am for a prayer service before departure.

Rose was born in Jersey City to two Italian immigrants, Cosima DiBello and Frank DiGeronimo. Rose gave thanks to the immigration era for without it she may never have been born. Her father was from the mountainous region of Santomenna, Italy, a mountainous region east of Naples far from Bari where her mother was born. Cosima and Frank met in Jersey City, married and raised four daughters. Cosima described Rose as a beautiful, chubby baby, who was entered the world on her nose, while being delivered in her mother’s kitchen during dinner time.

Cosima worked during the day doing piecework at a sweater factory, getting paid by the number of items she sewed, and Frank worked nights in Facility Management at Western Electric. They purchased a three-family house, and Frank converted it to a five-family house so they could have extra money. Frank did all the shopping and took the girls to school.

Rose would tell stories about her very happy childhood despite being raised during the depression era and there being hard times. We had many friends and all the children in the neighborhood came to play at their house and backyard. They jumped rope, played Hopscotch, and Box Ball. Holidays were fun with plenty of food like homemade food.

When Rose attended Henry Snyder High School. It was in history class that she met her future husband, Vincent Aquino. He interrupted her while she was at the blackboard doing looking at an assignment by saying, “Aren’t you Vicky DiGeronimo’s sister?” She said she was annoyed at the interruption until she turned around and saw his big blue eyes. He stole her heart and they were high school sweethearts after that, having lunch made by his mom for both of them everydayat school.

After high school, Rose became a secretary at Rope & Twine Company in Manhattan. Looking for a more of a challenge, Rose went to an employment agency, and she started working at First National Bank in the Trust Department. Rose made friends and joined the bank’s bowling league. They bowled every Friday night in Brooklyn and ate at Junior’s Restaurant. Vin, still her sweetheart, would bowl as a substitute.

Soon after, Vince was drafted into the Korean War and became a Marine. After doing three months of boot camp training at Paris Island, Rose and Vince were married in 1952, and lived on base in New Bern, North Carolina where Vin was stationed. Rose continued her career working as a bookkeeper in a furniture store.

When they returned to New Jersey, Rose resumed working at the bank as the Secretary to the Trust Officer. Shortly after, her work life was interrupted by the birth of her son, Frank, in November of 1957, and then just 13 months later, Vincent was born. She spent the next seven years as a full-time Mom. Then in 1966, after thinking pink for 9 months, Carolyn was born.

Rose went back to work when Carolyn was in grammar school doing temporary work with Helpmates Services. She worked at many places like Mueller’s Foods and then was sent to work at Provident Bank where she worked until she was 74 years old. Rose enjoyed “going to business” and was very good at what she did working in Mortgage Originations.

During her life, Rose enjoyed travelling with her family, as well as taking bus tours, both alone and with her sisters, and senior citizen club members. Rose considered her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren her greatest blessings.