Rose Patricia DiPalma Manica, 100, Olathe, Kansas, passed away Friday, July 29, 2022, two weeks after her 100th birthday party, where she lived at Santa Marta Retirement Health Services. Family services will be private. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions to Catholic Community Hospice, Catholic Charities and City Union Mission
Rose was born July 15, 1922, in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, a child of Italian immigrants. She was a graduate of Tewksbury High School and later in life graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Business Administration Degree from Oakland Community College in Oakland, Michigan. At age 19 she married Lawrence S. Manica and they had one son, Lawrence (Larry) A. Manica.
The family moved to Detroit, Michigan in 1950 where she started her secretarial career. Rose served as a Secretary in the Accounting offices of the Chrysler Corporation in Warren, Michigan, Secretary to the Budget Director of the City of Detroit, Secretary to the President of the Abitibi Corporation of Birmingham, Michigan and Secretary in the Executive Offices of the Tractor Division of Ford Motor Company in Troy, Michigan. Her professional activities included Vice President and President of the National Secretaries Association of Oakland County as well as being honored as Secretary of the Year.
Following her retirement from Ford Motor Corporation, they moved to Lee's Summit, Missouri. In 1988, while in Lee's Summit, she attended classes to become a Real Estate Agent. Rose became licensed in both Missouri and Kansas and became a Million Dollar producer for Reece Nichols, with a career that lasted 20 years.
Following her husband's death in 1994, she moved to Overland Park, Kansas continuing her Real Estate profession.
In 2007 she moved into Santa Marta Retirement Community and enjoyed participating in their many activities. Her hobbies include ballroom dancing, reading and cooking. Ballroom dancing became her new focus. As she advanced, she won numerous 1st place awards in competitions until 2015, when at age 93, she won First Place in her division of the Heart of America Ballroom Dance Competition.
Rose is survived by her son Larry Manica (wife Charla), grandsons David Manica (Noelle), Darin Manica (Kirsten) and Drew Manica (Chelsea) and 13 great grandchildren. She is also survived by a special niece Mardi DiPalma.