Rosarie Josephine Solimanto, of Lake George, NY, died after a brief illness on Friday, June 20th, at the age of 96.

"It's not what you take when you leave this world behind you, it's what you leave behind you when you go."

Rosarie had a deep and abiding faith in God and a strong love for the Blessed Mother. She prayed the rosary and attended Mass every single day. She leaves behind a beautiful testimony of faith, hope, and sacrifice in the hearts of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

She was married for 60 years to the love of her life, Lawrence. Rosarie loved being a wife and mother. She worked side by side with her husband in every family venture. She helped clean and manage the motels they owned, worked in the ice cream store, and spent many years with him at their used car lot in Hudson Falls. She even helped drive the cars when her son Pio took her to the car auctions.

She was a wonderful homemaker. Her ironing skills earned her son Steven the "Best Dressed" vote at school. "My clothes weren't fancy," he said, "they were just ironed so perfectly." Rosarie was also a fantastic cook and enjoyed hosting all the holidays at her home. Nothing gave her greater joy than having her family gathered around her. In addition to serving up the eggplant parmesan her son Larry loved so much, these special dinners were a chance to spread the love and peace she wanted so deeply for all of us. As the matriarch of the family, it was important to her that everyone love God and love one another. She leaves behind an example of love, loyalty, and respect for marriage so rare and precious today, as a legacy and lesson to her family.

Rosarie loved music and was always whistling, humming, or singing. "Everything reminds me of a song," she would say. Some of her favorites were "Yes, We Have No Bananas" and "Daisy Bell."

We will miss her sweet smile, her singing, and her joy in life's simple pleasures. We will never forget the lessons she taught. No family could have asked for a greater inheritance.

Rosarie was preceded in death by her parents, Christine and Dominic Sollazzo; her beloved husband, Lawrence Solimanto; her brother, Jackie Sollazzo; and her precious children, Diane and Peter.

Left to cherish her memory are her sister, Dorothy; her nephew, Richard; her beloved sons, Steven (Patty), Larry, and Pio; her grandchildren, Steven, Michael (Erin), Janell (Cameron), Rosary (Michael), Luke, Christina (Jason), and Travis (Vicki); 23 great-grandchildren; and her niece and nephew Rainey Weir and Thomas (Jane) Pfister.