Rosa Esther Alaimo

Rosa Esther Alaimo (nee Semidey), age 86 of Long Beach, NY passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 24, 2019 while receiving the loving care of her family.

Rosa was born and raised in Puerto Rico and was the youngest of thirteen children to Carmen and Telesforo Semidey.  Rosa lived in Puerto Rico with her family until the age of fifteen before moving to the United States.  When arriving in the United States, Rosa settled in New York City to live with her mother and sisters.  Rosa found work quickly while living in New York and accepted as position at Economy Bias Binding Company where she worked for several years.

While working at Economy Bias Binding, in 1947, she caught the eye of a handsome young man by the name of Louis Alaimo who was a shipping clerk.  As fate would have it they fell in love and the couple were married on February 25, 1950 at St Martin of Tours RC Church when Rosa was only sixteen years old and Louis only twenty-one.   Rosa and Louis first settled in Brooklyn and lived with Louis’ parents in their home.  They soon moved to their first apartment on Wilson Ave in Brooklyn, then later to another flat in Brooklyn on Central Ave.  They remained in Brooklyn for a few years until moving to the lower east side of Manhattan.  The couple welcomed their first two children, Salvatore in 1952 and Louis in 1953 while living in Brooklyn.  Rosa and Louis welcomed their third son Michael in 1964.  Rosa and Louis bought their first home in 1976 in Queens and remained there for thirty-two years raising their three sons.

Immediately after getting married, Rosa dedicated herself to being a full time homemaker.  She was totally devoted to her children, always volunteering at school and being there for them whenever they needed her.  Some years later, Rosa decided she would go back to school to become a beautician; however, the school she was attending closed up while she was a student and she was forced to stop.  Rosa also went back to work part time cleaning offices but her real devotion was to her husband, children, and later her grandchildren.  Rosa and Louis were also foster parents to several children for many years and raised them as her own.   Rosa actually hated to cook, however she was great at it.  Some of her signature dishes were her Eggplant Parmesan and Lasagna.  Early in their marriage Louis insisted that Rosa have dinner on the table every night at 6PM.  Rosa’s mother-in-law found out and took Rosa aside and told her not to give in to him; let him wait for his meals.  She said, “Have his dinner on the table at 7PM tonight and he will be just as happy to eat!”

Rosa and Louis were parishioners at several churches over the years including St Joseph’s in New York, St Sylvester’s in Brooklyn, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Queens, and St Ignatius the Martyr in Long Beach, NY.  Rosa was a typical old fashion, family first woman who dedicated herself to the ones she loved.  Rosa’s greatest passion was for her family, nothing meant more to her than providing for and spending time with her children and her precious grandchildren whom she often spoiled.  Over the years, Louis and Rosa attended many shows and musicals in New York, Rosa was also a huge Elvis fan. She vacationed quite often with their family throughout her life.  Some memorable trips included the family road trip to Florida in the late 1960’s, frequenting Lake George, and a fortieth wedding anniversary gift trip to Las Vegas.  Rosa and Louis cherished sixty-five years of loving and loyal marriage together until Louis’ passing in November of 2015.  Rosa touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew her.

Rosa is survived by her three sons; Salvatore Alaimo and his wife Sonia of Rio Rancho, NM, Louis Alaimo and his wife Patricia Rivera, and Dr. Michael Alaimo and his wife Judy of Malvern, NY, two grandchildren; James and Marcus Alaimo, two step grandchildren; Hermes and Joseph John (JJ), four step great grandchildren; Alex, Jesse, John, and Joshua, and one step great-great-grandchild Sophia.  Rosa was predeceased by her husband Louis Alaimo in 2015.