Rosalie Barbeara Plaia, 94, died February 3, 2012, peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family. She was born on October 25, 1917, the daughter of the late Annie and Clement Barbeara.
Rosie, as she was known by her family and friends, was the last surviving sibling of eight brothers and sisters. She was adored her by children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other family members. She will be remembered by them as always stressing the importance of family in their lives.
Rosie was preceded in death by her husband of fifty-one years, Tony; and two sons, Clement and Andrew Plaia; six sisters, Katie Pillitere, Annie Gibson, Mary Tangredi, Josephine Plaia, Mamie Fertitta, Lena Graziana; and two brothers, Frank and Mike Barbeara.
She married Tony Plaia in July 1935. In the early years, they forged a future for their young family by running a neighborhood grocery store. As their family grew, Tony founded Plaia’s Vending Service.
Rosie and her husband, Tony, will be remembered for the Christmas Eve Open House which they hosted for many years in their home. It was filled with camaraderie among family and friends, and of course, Italian sausage served after midnight Mass. This tradition continues today by her children.
As a first generation Sicilian, and a member of the Catholic Church, she was especially devoted to St. Joseph, the Patron Saint of the Poor. This was evident by her tireless work over the years on numerous St. Joseph Altars, including her mother’s for twenty-seven years, other family members and her own. In the last fifteen years, she worked specifically with the annual Altars of St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church and St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica.
Known as a good cook, her talent was featured in an article of the Women’s News section of the Beaumont Journal in 1970. She was also instrumental in bringing rice balls to the Texas Rice Festival in 1971. She instructed the ladies of St. Louis Catholic Church, in Winnie, on the preparation of rice balls for their annual fundraising booth at the Texas Rice Festival, establishing a successful tradition that continues today.
To further commemorate her cooking talents, her children put together a cookbook of her recipes, “Love, Family, Food” in December 2000. She autographed copies and proudly gave them to her family and friends. The introduction in the cookbook quotes, “It is really a gift she first gave to us, now to be given by her to pass on to all in her family.”
Rosie will be missed for her loyalty, and unconditional love for family and friends.
Survivors include her three children, Pat Plaia and his wife, Lois, Jake Plaia and his wife, Judi, and Antoinette Plaia Miller and her husband, Bruce; fourteen grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Serving as pallbearers are David Fertitta, Robert Burge, Carl Tangredi, Jr., Joseph Durso, Tony Plaia and Dudley Miller.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 7, 2012, at St. Anne Catholic Church, 2715 Calder Avenue, Beaumont, with interment to follow at Magnolia Cemetery, 2291 Pine Street, under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. A gathering of family and friends will begin at 5:00 p.m., with a Rosary recited at 7:00 p.m., on Monday, February 6, 2012, at Broussard’s.
The family would like to give thanks to Dr. Jeremy Huff and Penny, his nurse; Harbor Hospice; the loving and caring staff of Beaumont Health Care: Carla, Kathy and Peggy.
The family would also like to give a very special thank you to Esther Johnson for her ongoing expression of kindness, gentleness and unwavering dedication to Rosie.
Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica, c/o St. Joseph Altar, P.O. Box 3309, Beaumont, Texas 77704.
