Alice Rossi 1923-2025

She was born Aug. 9, 1923, in Youngstown, to Michael Sakovich and Maria Weber Sakovich, where she resided until she moved to Frostburg, Maryland, in 2012.

A lifelong educator, Alice was the first person in her family to attend college. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Youngstown State University, a master’s in special education from the University of Akron and a doctorate from Los Angeles University.

She was a teacher and later the principal at the Leonard Kirtz School after teaching at Harding Elementary School.

She was very active at the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, where she served on parish council, was a member of St. Monica Guild and Mothers of the Crucifix, coordinated the Sunday spaghetti dinners, chaired the Mount Carmel Italian festival and co-authored two cookbooks highlighting Italian recipes.

She was a board member at Beatitude House, an Ursuline Sisters mission providing housing, education and training opportunities for those experiencing homelessness, and a member of Sons of Italy Auxiliary and Latin Culture Foundation. Alice was honored as the “Italian Woman of the Year” in Youngstown.

She is survived by her son, Adrian A. Rossi “#1 Son,” and wife, Mary Fisher Rossi; grandson, Alexander Rossi, and wife, Angela; great-grandchildren, Mia Rossi Sinning and husband, Ethan Sinning, Dominic Rossi and their mother, Lindsey Rossi, all of Columbus. Additional family members include her son, Dr. Armond A. Rossi, and wife, Jane Farinelli Rossi, of Frostburg, Maryland, where Alice made her home for 13 years after moving from Youngstown. Alice’s grandchildren, Adam Rossi, and fiancee, Sara Pekar; and Dr. Cecilia Rossi, and fiance, Eric Teller of Cleveland; grandson, John Rossi of Madison, Wisconsin; her daughter, Dr. Anne Marie Rossi Jarrett, and husband, Jeffrey Gassie, of Santa Fe, New Mexico; Alice’s grandson, Aaron Jarrett, and wife, Kristin Walther Jarrett; and great-grandchildren, Addison, Brayden and Cohen Jarrett of Austin, Texas.

Additional surviving relatives include her niece, JoAnn Ponigar Sharp, and husband, Bob Sharp of Youngstown; and nephews, Joseph Rossi, and wife, Marcella “Marcie” of Canfield, and Louis Rossi of Poland.

She was preceded in death by her brother-in-law, Louis Rossi, and wife, Carrie; sister-in-law, Elvera Rossi Cannatti, and husband, Joseph Cannatti; and her beloved schnauzer, Brunswick, who brought her many years of joy.

Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, at the Rossi Brothers and Lellio Funeral Home, 4442 South Ave., Boardman.

Funeral services will be 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, at the funeral home, followed by a 10 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica, 343 Via Mount Carmel, Youngstown.

Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery in Youngstown.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the caregivers at Goodwill Retirement Community in Grantsville, Maryland, who helped make the last 18 months of Alice’s life fulfilling.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in honor of Alice Rossi to MD Anderson Children’s Art Project at mdanderson.org or at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital at stjude.org.

Family and friends are encouraged to offer prayers for the family and support by visiting the Book of Memories at www.rossifunerals.com.

(special notice)