Obituary of Rose Ann Vaughn

Rose Ann S. Vaughn, 94, recently of Saratoga Springs, NY died on Tuesday, June 27 in her home at Wesley Health Care Center following a brief illness.

Rose Ann was born in Amsterdam on January 29, 1923 as the only child to Frank Anthony Spidalieri and Marianne Bucci Spidalieri.  Rose Ann’s family moved to Schenectady, NY when she was a young girl. She attended Nott Terrace High School. Rose Ann was a talented young pianist throughout her high school years and performed regularly as a soloist and or an accompanist in Schenectady.

Rose Ann attended and graduated from Ithaca College with a Bachelor’s in Music in 1945. She moved to Greenville, NY accepting her first job as both a high school and elementary music teacher at Greenville Central School. It was in Greenville that Rose Ann met her lifelong love and future husband, William E. Vaughn.  William (Bill) had just returned from 4 years of service in the Army during World War II. He lived at his parents’ home across the street from the high school and next door to where Rose Ann and friends were renting a flat.  Rose Ann and Bill married in 1947.

Themes for their life together were family and community.  Rose Ann taught music until the birth of their only child, Diana. Rose Ann created a loving home and supported Bill in his livelihood as owner of an IGA grocery store on Main Street in Greenville, and later as Greenville postmaster. Several years later Rose Ann returned to teaching as an elementary teacher at Greenville Central School. She obtained a Masters in Education from the State University of New York.  Rose Ann and Bill devoted themselves to the Vaughn family, to their chosen respective careers, and to deep involvement in the Greenville community, to Maranatha Chapter of Eastern Star and James M. Austin Lodge #557, and to Christ Episcopal Church. Rose Ann was a long-time member of the church choir, and she often substituted as church organist. In addition, Rose Ann gave piano instruction at her home for many years to aspiring students. Rose Ann retired from Greenville Central School District as an elementary teacher in 1978.

Rose Ann and Bill divided their retirement years between Greenville and Ocala, Florida. Following retirement, Rose Ann took up golf, not out of passion for the sport, but in order to spend time on the golf course with both Bill and Diana. The couple spent 20 years of winter retirement life in Ocala developing a strong community of friendships. Many within that group of friends were retired couples from either the Greenville School District or from Greene County.

Soon after Bill’s death in 1998, Rose Ann sold the family home in Greenville and moved to Coburg Village in Clifton Park. She lived there for 16 wonderful years, supported by so many loving friends. Rose Ann moved to the Wesley Health Care Center in 2015. She received superb care at Wesley throughout her stay and made wonderful friends among the residents and staff.

Rose Ann is survived by her daughter Diana Vaughn of Galway, NY and by a large extended family. The family wishes to give a most special acknowledgement to all of the administration, all of the departments and all of the staff of Wesley Health Care Center for their extraordinarily skilled and loving care of Rose Ann for over 2 years. The family is forever grateful to them for their devotion to their work, for their care of Rose Ann, and in addition, for the strength, support and love they gave to her and to her family during the difficult final days of life.  A very special thank you to all of the employees and volunteers of The Community Hospice of Saratoga County who were by our side during the final days. You brought us comfort, caring and support, and you shared your strength to get us through the final days. A warm and loving thank you is extended to Cindy Willette, Rose Ann’s friend and companion for these last few months. Cindy, you brought light, love and laughter to Rose Ann and to her family.
 
Calling hours will be held on Friday July 7, 2017 from 10am to 12pm at the A.J. Cunningham Funeral Home, 4898 State Route 81, Greenville. A funeral service will be held at 1pm at the Christ Episcopal Church, State Route 32, Greenville, followed by burial in Greenville Cemetery.
 

Donations to Rose Ann’s memory may be made to The Wesley Foundation, 156 Lawrence Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 or to The Community Hospice of Saratoga County, 179 Lawrence St, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 or to the Christ Episcopal Church Building Fund, PO Box 278, Greenville, NY 12083.