Rosalie D’Angelo 1940-2026

Rosalie was born Nov. 5, 1940, in Youngstown to Joseph and Mary Naples Marsilio.

Rosalie was curious and thoughtful, with an independent streak and an unwavering belief in herself that served her well throughout her life. As a big sister, she was protective and a force to be reckoned with for anyone who dared give her younger brother a hard time. She was also patient and loving, enduring the many pranks her brother would play on her with grace and good humor.

She took her first job at age 12, delivering newspapers with her brother Vince. A year later, she began playing piano for services at the St. Mary’s Home of the Aged on Youngstown’s North Side. Her love of music would become a throughline in her life, always present in her education, her relationships and her vocation.

Rosalie excelled in her studies, graduating with honors from Ursuline High School in 1958 before attending college to pursue a music degree. At YSU, she was advised to major in voice or piano and explicitly discouraged from studying music composition. Never one to be told what she could or could not do, Rosalie followed her own path, becoming one of the first women at YSU to earn her Bachelor of Music degree while majoring in composition.

At YSU, Rosalie met her husband, Sam. They married after graduation and started a family. Rosalie took a break from working to nurture her two young sons before returning to work as choir director at Ursuline High School and later at Girard High School. Sam and Rosalie later adopted three brothers to complete the family of five boys.

Eventually, Rosalie left the school system to become a private music teacher. She also became the music director for St. Paul the Apostle Church in New Middletown, a ministry she would provide for the next 42 years. As the family took root in New Middletown, Rosalie’s role in the St. Paul community took on deeper meaning as her steady presence and unwavering commitment to excellence provided stability to the music ministry. She composed many hymns and responsorials that became mainstays in the church liturgy.

In her 50s, Rosalie returned to school, earning a Master of Theology degree from Duquesne University. Rosalie treasured her time at Duquesne and the opportunity to explore her faith and spirituality with religious leaders from across the world. She took great pride in this accomplishment and was honored as the oldest member of her graduating class.

Rosalie worked at St. Paul’s until her retirement in 2020. She also proudly pinched pierogies every Friday and continued giving piano lessons to the very end.

Rosalie was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Sam D’Angelo.

She leaves behind her sons, Sam (April), Joseph (Keila), Mark, John and Donald; brother, Vincent Marsilio; brother-in-law, John (Terry) D’Angelo; grandsons, Roberto, Diego and Marco; and granddaughters, Dominique, Jasmine, Gina and Tori.

A service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, at St. Paul the Apostle Roman Catholic Parish, 10143 Main St., New Middletown, OH 44442.

(special notice)