Rosa Macri

Rosa Macri, 69, passed away on April 17, 2024 in her home surrounded by family. Rosa was born in Calabria, Italy to Francesco and Maria (Nicoletti) Macri. Rosa was preceded in death by her parents, and her siblings, Eduardo Macri of Australia, Domenic Macri, Cosimo “Pete” Macri, Anthony “Tony” Macri, and Concetta Maugeri of South Bend, Indiana. Rosa was also preceded in death by her sisters-in-law, Catherine Macri, Francesca Macri, Sheila Macri, and Immacolata Macri, and her brothers-in-law, Francesco Lizzi and Carmello Maugeri. Rosa is survived by her sister, Maria Lizzi, and her brothers, Nicola Macri and Salvatore “Sam” Macri (Tammy) of South Bend, Indiana, many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and cousins.

Rosa was born with Down Syndrome yet spoke fluent English and Italian. True to her Italian roots, Rosa showed resilience in every challenge she faced.  Rosa spent most of her life helping to care for her parents until 2004, when her father passed. Rosa lived in a group home that she loved until 2020, when she experienced a near-death experience. In true Rosa fashion, she beat the odds and survived the experience – singing, “I’m back!” on the way home from the hospital. During her time at the group home, Rosa made numerous friends. Her best friend, “Corey-Bean” survives. Rosa’s favorite caregiver, Christine Langdon, was a constant presence in Rosa’s life and helped care for Rosa after she left the group home. Rosa was blessed to have Chris at her side when she passed. Rosa worked as an assembler at Marshall-Starke where she also made many friends. Rosa enjoyed spending her summers at Camp Millhouse.

From 2020 until she passed, Rosa lived with her sister, Maria, and her niece, Rosemary Lyle, who took the utmost care of her along with her guardian and niece, Marianne Tucker. Rosa loved living with Maria and Rosemary who doted over her daily. Rosa loved shopping, especially with Rosemary, who spoiled her with trinkets, dolls, hats, necklaces, and nail polish. Rosa loved having her nails painted, coloring, writing her name repeatedly, and folding papers and laundry. Rosa loved dancing and going to parties where she always found her way to the center of attention so she could give a speech.  She mastered the Tarantella and would belt out a high-pitched “Happy Birthday” song to anyone who would listen – even when it was no one’s birthday.  Rosa enjoyed challenging and bickering with her nephews, Joe Galea and Michael “Mick” Lizzi – she always found a way to have the last word. She would constantly remind Joe that she used to change his diaper and could silence Mick by just saying, “Michael!” She introduced her niece, Marianne, to everyone as, “This is my niece Marianne who works like a lawyer, beautiful woman all my life, who saved my life” even though they already knew Marianne. While living in the group home, Rosa called Marianne daily to check on her and ask about her sister, Maria. She enjoyed tattling to Marianne about her housemates and telling her about her workday and social activities. Rosa loved spending time and visiting with her great-nieces and nephews (Juliana Lizzi, Jacob Lyle, Lizzie Lyle, Frankie Lizzi, Nico Galea, and Sophia Lizzi) who treated Rosa like gold and always made sure to include her in everything they did. Lizzie would come home from Ball State often to care for Rosa so her caregivers could have a break. Rosa’s favorite holiday was Christmas and she loved Christmas music, often playing it year-round. Her favorite Italian song that she knew verbatim was “Calabrisella Mia.”

Rosa had an infectious giggle and a witty personality. She was an inspiration to everyone. Rosa made friends wherever she went, often stopping to kiss or hug a stranger. Rosa was always a ray of sunshine and the life of any party. She was very close to her brother-in-law, Frank, who treated her like a sister. We are confident they are teasing each other in Heaven.

The family wishes to give a special heartfelt thanks to Rosa’s caregivers, especially Christine Langdon, Alicia Burnham, Leslie Jeffers, Debbie Myer, Amanda Stone, and Christine Ferrara, her social worker, Annie Logan, Heartland Hospice, the staff at IU Methodist Hospital who saved Rosa’s life in 2020, and all of Rosa’s friends and family who took time out of their busy schedules to entertain and care for Rosa these last few years.

Rosa was a breath of fresh air, a light in our lives, and a force to be reckoned with. Rosa taught us to celebrate the little things, enjoy the scenic route, and to slow down and enjoy every moment we have together. Rosa made it easy to love her, and she will be immensely missed by all the lives she touched.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00am Saturday, April 20, 2024 in Our Lady of Hungary Catholic Church.  Entombment will follow in Highland Cemetery.  Viewing will take place from 9:00am until services in the church.  Zahoran Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.   To leave an online condolence, visit our website http://www.zahoran.com or our Facebook page Zahoran Funeral Home.  Contributions in Rosa’s honor may be made to Camp Millhouse or Heartland Hospice.   

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