Rose M. LaFave, of Farmington Hills, passed into eternal life early Saturday morning, September 5, 2026, at Angela Hospice Care Center in Livonia. She was 96 years old.

Rose was born August 14, 1930, in Detroit, the daughter of the late Joseph and Hilda (Ritter) Loskill. She grew up in Detroit and attended St. Matthew Catholic School before graduating from Detroit's Dominican High School and pursuing her calling in nursing. Rose completed her nurses' training at Mount Carmel Hospital, where she formed friendships that would remain an important part of her life for decades to come.

As a young nurse, Rose was independent, capable, and adventurous. She loved attending Detroit Red Wings games at Olympia Stadium with her nursing friends and was proud of driving her three-speed automobile around Detroit at a time when such independence was not always common for a young woman.

Through mutual friends, Rose met Ralph LaFave, and the two were married on April 14, 1956, at St. Matthew Catholic Church in Detroit—the same parish that had been such an important part of Rose's childhood. They soon settled in Farmington Hills, where they raised their family and remained in the same home on Colwell Street for many years. Ralph preceded Rose in death on November 24, 2020, following more than 64 years of marriage.

Rose devoted much of her professional life to nursing. After taking time away from her career while her children were young, she returned to the profession she loved and spent more than two decades at Botsford Hospital. She also worked for a time at St. Mary's Hospital and in a physician's office in Detroit's David Whitney Building. Nursing suited Rose well. She was dependable, hardworking, compassionate, and unflappable—qualities that remained a part of her throughout her life.

Yet as meaningful as nursing was to Rose, nothing was more important to her than her family.

She was the devoted mother of Linda (Tony) Russo, Sharon (Michael) Williams, Michael (Janet) LaFave, Patrick (Annette) LaFave, and Beth (Chris) DeMartini; cherished grandmother of Amy (Keith) Erby, Brian Russo, Joseph (Nina) Russo, Steven (Trish Savage) Russo, John (Josie) Williams, Luke (Brenn) Williams, Jessica LaFave, Madeline (Kelby Scheuher) LaFave, Josh (Molly) LaFave, Nicholas (Karissa) LaFave, Hunter (Samantha Sattmann) LaFave, Cole (Molly) LaFave, Mark (fiancée Emma Gietek) DeMartini, Matthew DeMartini, and Paul DeMartini; and proud great-grandmother of Cooper and EllaRose Erby, Blair Rose Riggs, Charlie Russo, Jonah LaFave, Amelia Scheuher, Margaret LaFave, Austin Scheuher, and Dominic LaFave.

Rose and Ralph were the kind of grandparents who showed up. Near or far, they traveled to sporting events, recitals, games, and activities involving their grandchildren, and Rose continued doing so well into her 90s. College basketball, soccer, football, swimming, dance recitals—it mattered little what the activity was. If one of her grandchildren or great-grandchildren was involved, Rose wanted to be there.

Her family often described her with one simple word: sweet. It suited her in more ways than one.

Rose loved to bake, and baking became one of the clearest ways she expressed her affection for others. Chocolate chip cookies, banana nut bread, strawberry jam, and countless other homemade treats emerged from her kitchen over the years. If someone was sick, grieving, recovering from surgery, celebrating something special, or simply needed a little encouragement, Rose's first instinct was often to ask, "What can I bake?" Food was her love language, and countless family members and friends were the fortunate recipients.

She was also an accomplished seamstress, making and repairing clothing for her family and later becoming the person grandchildren knew they could turn to whenever something needed mending.

Rose enjoyed the rhythms and traditions of home. She canned tomatoes, made strawberry freezer jam, followed the seasons closely, and always seemed to know when it was time to begin the next annual kitchen project. She liked crossword puzzles, paid close attention to the weather, and remained a loyal fan of the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings.

She could be sweet, but she was also wonderfully tough and no-nonsense. Rose belonged to a generation that did not complain easily. Even during illness or discomfort, she was far more likely to describe something as "an ache" or "a little twinge" than to call it pain. She expected her children to be tough as well, and when Rose used a child's full given name, everyone knew she meant business.

Beneath that toughness was extraordinary grace.

Rose was deeply considerate of others and often seemed more concerned about inconveniencing a caregiver than about her own needs. Even near the end of her life, she worried about creating additional work for the nurses caring for her. That concern for others was nothing new. Throughout their marriage, Rose and Ralph made a point of attending visitations and funerals whenever someone they knew experienced a loss. Offering condolences personally, standing beside a grieving family, and simply showing up were, to Rose, the right things to do.

Her Catholic faith was at the center of her life. Rose and Ralph were founding members of the Servant Church of St. Alexander in Farmington Hills, where Rose became especially active with the Workers of Mary. Her involvement in parish life was another expression of the faith, service, and generosity that defined her. In later years, as a parishioner of St. Gerald Catholic Church, Rose continued to remain involved in her own special way, faithfully providing baked goods for parish gatherings and activities. For Rose, serving her church community often came straight from her kitchen and from her heart.

Rose was a true prayer warrior who prayed faithfully and daily for her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, relatives, and friends. Her family knew that they were continually being lifted up in her prayers. That faith sustained her throughout the joys and sorrows of 96 years and remained with her until the end.

Rose is also survived by her siblings, Joseph Loskill and Rita Loskill.

In addition to her beloved husband, Ralph, Rose was preceded in death by her sister, Marcella (the late Robert) Huck; her infant daughter, Mary Josephine; as well as a stillborn daughter.

Rose's life was marked by faith, family, service, resilience, and a generous heart. She cared for people as a nurse, nurtured generations as a mother and grandmother, served her parish communities, prayed for those she loved, showed up when it mattered, and rarely arrived without something homemade to share.

Family and friends may gather for visitation at the Heeney-Sundquist Funeral Home in downtown Farmington on Sunday, September 13, from 1-7 pm. A time of prayer and remembrances is planned for 4:00 pm.

Rose's funeral mass will be celebrated on Monday morning, September 14, at 11:00 am (in state 10:30 am) at St. Gerald Catholic Church, 21300 Farmington Road, Farmington (Click HERE for a LIVESTREAM of Rose's funeral mass).

Interment will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield.

Memorial tributes are kindly suggested to the Society of St. Vincent DePaul at St. Gerald Parish or C.A.R.E.S. of Farmington Hills .

For those who knew Rose, perhaps there is no more fitting way to remember her: strong yet gentle, no-nonsense yet deeply compassionate, faithful, gracious, and genuinely sweet. May her beautiful soul rest in peace.

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