Rose M. Small

Rose Marie Small (affectionately known as “Rosie”) was born in Brooklyn, NY on June 23, 1936 to John amd Ethel McVay. As the middle child of five, she was always very close yo her sisters Georgiana Small and Barbara Jean Cristian and her late brothers John McVay and Charles McVay.

In 1955, Rosie graduated from Jane Addams High School located in Bronx, NY. She continued her education receiving an Associate’s degree in Applied Science from Hunter College.

Not long after, Rosie fell in love with a handsome gentlemen by the name of Kenneth Doughlas Smalls, Sr. and the two were married on October 11, 1958. Very much dedicated to family and community, Rosie became an Education Associate at P.S. 147 in Brooklyn, participated in Neighborhood Block Watch groups, and served as both Girl Scout Cookie Sales Chairman and Pack Den mother for her young children.

In 1974, she and her husband made the decision to leave Brooklyn and move out to Long Island where they raised their family. However, she never gave up her desire for community involvement but instead channeled it to efforts in their new community of Central Islip. With the relocation of their family, Rosie found a new position at the IRS processing center and later retired from Pilgrim Psychiatric Hospital as an Administrative clerk. Even after retirement, she continued to give her time to her community. She played an active role on the community design team for the newly built Lowell Avenue playground. She assisted with design input and even assisted with sketching some of the community visions for the park.

She was a faithful and dedicated member of Hope Missionary Baptist Church for 37 years. Served in numerous assignments as church secretary, Willing workers, and the Usher Board. She freely volunteered her time and artistic skills creating special occasion laminated cards, brochures, pamphlets for the church and loved it.

Sketching, painting, and drawing were just a few of her many talents. She was known to many family members and friends for her creative and artistic expression. From sewing and designing gowns to making African wedding pieces, she was always willing to lend an artistic hand. Often quite modest about her work, many of her pieces are still retained by family members and friends today.

Rose Marie Small also had a true passion for traveling. She had an adventurous side that loved to visit and experience different cultures. Among her travels, she has visited places like Jerusalem, Ghana, Canada, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, and many of the Caribbean islands. Most recent of her journeys, she traveled to Barbados joined by her sister Barbara, her children Delia, Kenny and Eric, goddaughter/niece Nicole and friends Beverly and Edna. Family recalled her having a blast dancing “all night” every night.

Known to most as “fun loving” and “feisty”, she also had a very determined spirit which only increased with age. In 2008, she braved the snowy blizzard like conditions and record-breaking crowds determined to be present at the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States Barack Obama and all of this just after her recovery from hip-replacement surgery.

That is just one day’s example of her fighting spirit. She was also a 23 years Breast Cancer survivor and supported the American Cancer Society research for “The Cure” initiatives.

On Tuesday December 30th, 2019 she departed this life during her sleep leaving to mourn her 3 children; Delia Marie (Small) Millet, Kenneth D. Small, Jr. and Eric D. Small.

She also leaves behind 8 grandchildren: Kenneth D. Small-3rd, Jasmine Rose (Small) Wardell, Joshua Tobias Small, Jaela Anastasia Small, Jordan Cloyd Small, Averi Marie Millet, Austin P.D. Millet, Rhianna Small and Cataleya Small; 2 great-grandchildren Milani Rose Wardell and Kennedi Small; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, in laws and friends.

God called her home and said rest my Good and Faithful servant.